UFO-Nytt - 1977 No 2

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO-NYTT
Issue: 2
Volume: 1
Date: January 1977
Publisher: UFO-KO (Kalmar-Öland UFO-förening)
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish

This issue of UFO-NYTT, the second publication from the Kalmar-Öland UFO association, delves into various aspects of UFO phenomena, space exploration, and related theories.

Vatten i rymden (Water in Space)

The lead article reports on a significant discovery by scientists at the Max Planck Institute in Munich. Using a large West German radio telescope, they have confirmed the existence of water vapor in other galaxies, located in a nebula known as "IC 133" within the galaxy "M 33", approximately 2.2 million light-years from Earth. This finding is presented as further evidence supporting the theory that Earth-like planets exist beyond our own Milky Way.

UFO Sightings in Sweden

The magazine includes several reports of UFO sightings within Sweden:

• Öland and surrounding areas: Gunnar Schelin, a UFO-logist from Borgholm, reports on a phenomenon observed over multiple locations, including Öland, Gotland, and northern Öland, during the previous weekend. The sighting involved a large, bright green-white object hovering, accompanied by two smaller lights that shifted between red and green. A car driver on Öland observed the large object stationary over the Ölandsbron bridge at approximately 5:40 PM, with the smaller lights moving in opposite directions. The large object then moved in a west-southwest direction. The smaller objects moved in the opposite direction. The phenomenon was also visible south of Kalmar and in Blekinge.
• Acquisition of a UFO Observation Post: UFO-KO has acquired a UFO observation tower for use by F 12, located on the eastern side of Öland, in Strandtorp, N. Möckleby, about 20 km from the bridge.
• "Maskerad i juletid eller vad?" (Masquerade at Christmas time or what?): Bele Johnson from Skövde recounts an unusual encounter. While driving, he saw a flashing object on the road about 100 meters ahead. Upon closer inspection, he observed two beings dressed in silver-like, highly reflective suits. The object was described as a cigar-shaped vehicle, yellow in color. The beings quickly entered their craft and disappeared at high speed. Johnson describes the beings as approximately 1.50 meters tall with unusually long arms. After they left, a smell of gunpowder was noted in the air. He questions whether it was a genuine phenomenon or people in disguise.
• Other Reports: The annual report mentions a 15-20 meter red spherical object seen in Mossebo Trekanten and a round pit, 3 meters in diameter and 4 meters deep, in Målilla.

Erich von Däniken: Tillbaka till stjärnorna (Back to the Stars)

This section features an article by Erich von Däniken, who posits that Earth was visited by extraterrestrials in ancient times. He claims these beings possessed knowledge of nuclear power and genetics, and may have used early humans as experimental subjects, injecting them to develop them into beings resembling the visitors, whom he refers to as gods. Von Däniken believes that remnants of this ancient contact are found in inspired moments of artists and researchers. He points to the rapid development of the human brain as evidence of external influence. He also discusses ancient artifacts and structures, such as the Easter Island statues and the Sol Gate in Peru, as proof of advanced, possibly extraterrestrial, technology. He interprets rock paintings in the Sahara as depicting space travelers and suggests that egg-shaped objects found in Costa Rica are representations of ancient spacecraft.

Liv på Mars? (Life on Mars?)

Bernth Svensson contributes an article discussing the search for life on Mars, referencing the "Mars canals" theory from the 1870s. He notes that modern photo evidence from the Mariner and Viking probes has disproven the existence of canals. The Viking missions (Viking 1 and 2), launched in August 1975, aimed to photograph the Martian surface and search for life. The article presents the results of soil and atmospheric analyses from the Viking landing sites, indicating a composition rich in carbon dioxide, nitrogen, and argon, with trace amounts of oxygen. The soil analysis shows significant amounts of iron, silicon, calcium, and aluminum. Temperature readings from the Mariner probes show extreme variations between day and night, and at the polar caps. The article highlights that onboard Viking 1 and 2, life-detection experiments yielded strong reactions that NASA scientists initially refused to believe. These reactions are currently being investigated through laboratory simulations to understand what truly occurred.

UFO-årsmöte 1976 (UFO Meeting 1976)

The annual report for the Kalmar-Öland UFO association details its first year of operation, starting in early 1976. The association held its annual meeting on January 28th in Kalmar. Arne Arvidsson was elected chairman. The report mentions a busy year of activities, including lectures and film screenings for the public, reaching over two thousand attendees across twenty-five events. The association also focused on 'air activities' and received numerous reports. A planned series of observation nights was largely unsuccessful due to poor weather, with only one event in Strandtorp being carried out. The report notes the formation of an active youth group and an attempt to start astronomy courses, which saw low participation. The association planned to publish its own magazine, UFO-nytt, starting in January 1977. They also explored possibilities for 'free choice work' in schools, offering UFO education to teachers starting in January 1977. Efforts to borrow a radar tower from F 12 were unsuccessful, but new attempts were planned. The association sought financial support from the Kalmar municipality but had no success. The report concludes by thanking members for their trust and offering their positions for the next term.

"Detta är fakta kring tefaten" (This is Fact Regarding Flying Saucers)

Gunnar Schelin, the district chief for UFO Götaland, writes about the phenomenon of UFOs, or "flying saucers." He criticizes the media and authorities for often dismissing or trivializing UFO reports, despite numerous credible accounts from pilots, astronomers, police, and scientists worldwide. Schelin argues that UFOs are intelligently controlled craft from non-terrestrial intelligences that continuously visit Earth. He believes the public is largely unaware of this due to insufficient and misleading information. He contrasts the significant media attention given to mundane events with the minimal coverage of documented UFO landings and sightings, which often leave clear physical evidence. Schelin asserts that official explanations often fail to account for all observed facts, and that UFO research is essential for challenging existing scientific paradigms and our understanding of the world. He notes that many prominent figures, including former UN Secretary-General U Thant, have acknowledged the importance of the UFO issue. Schelin concludes that despite official reluctance, flying saucers are a reality, and it is only a matter of time before everyone recognizes this.

Other Short Articles

• "Vet ni det?" (Did you know?): A brief report on the discovery of a new star by an amateur astronomer.
• Jordvärme (Geothermal Heat): Iceland is using geothermal water to heat homes.
• Dinosaurier i Kina (Dinosaurs in China): Fossils of dinosaurs dating back 100 million years have been found in Tibet.
• Ett eko av Nessie -76 (An Echo of Nessie -76): American scientists detected a sound resembling a prehistoric sea monster in Loch Ness, Scotland, potentially related to the Loch Ness Monster.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently promotes the reality of UFO phenomena and extraterrestrial visitation, often questioning official explanations and advocating for greater public awareness and scientific investigation. There is a strong emphasis on UFO sightings within Sweden and the activities of the local UFO association. The editorial stance is one of open inquiry, encouraging reader contributions and presenting theories from figures like Erich von Däniken alongside scientific findings from space missions. The publication aims to inform and persuade readers about the significance of UFOs and the possibility of life beyond Earth.

This issue of "VET NI DET?" (Do You Know That?) from 1977 delves into a variety of intriguing topics, ranging from scientific discoveries and space exploration to unexplained phenomena and UFO sightings. The magazine presents a mix of factual reporting and anecdotal accounts, aiming to inform and engage its readers on subjects often considered outside the mainstream.

Scientific Discoveries and Space Exploration

The issue begins with a brief note on the age of our solar system, stating that scientists agree it is between four to six billion years old, with evidence provided by lunar samples from the Apollo missions. It also touches upon the discovery of a potential new sea creature in the Soviet Union's Kok-Kol lake, described by a geographer as having a snake's head, a hump, and a tail.

Further scientific exploration is highlighted with a piece on ancient climates around the North Pole, based on research by L. Budantsev, suggesting a warm, vegetated period millions of years ago. A more contemporary space event is the docking of the Soviet spacecraft Soyuz 24 with the Salyut 5 space station, a significant achievement in space exploration.

The magazine dedicates substantial coverage to the Viking project, detailing its mission to Mars. It describes the project as the most advanced space adventure since Apollo, with two unmanned spacecraft carrying sophisticated instruments like seismometers, cameras, and biological/chemical experiment kits to search for signs of life on the Red Planet. The journey to Mars is estimated to take 10 months, a stark contrast to a car journey of 800 years. The article also mentions the discovery of vast canyons on Mars, some 500 miles long and twice as deep as the Grand Canyon, and volcanoes that are twice as high as Earth's highest mountains.

UFOs and Unexplained Phenomena

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to UFO sightings and related organizations. UFO-Sverige, a national organization, is featured, with its leader, Carl-Axel Jonzon, stating that while they know UFOs exist, they don't know what they are. The organization, founded in 1970, has approximately 2,000 members and relies on private contributions and membership fees. They express a desire for more official support, including free phone lines for reporting sightings.

Several specific UFO sightings are reported across Sweden:

• A mysterious, possibly radioactive object fell into a fishpond in Wakefield, New Hampshire, USA, attracting significant public attention.
• A luminous object, described as seven to eight times larger than Venus with a long tail, was seen over Böda, Öland, Sweden. It exhibited unusual behavior, including stopping and diving towards a clearing.
• Reports from Motala and Kolmården, and over Lake Vättern, are mentioned.
• A craft was observed flying low over a station building in Mjölby, with a creature reportedly looking out.
• A large, round, flat object with radiating windows was seen over Lindås, Sweden.
• In Gajemåla, a large star-like phenomenon with a strong glow and different colors was observed for two consecutive nights.
• A peculiar object was seen in the forest near Åreskutan, Sweden, which later transformed into a larger, oval craft with three windows and a rotating 'gas cloud'.
• An oval, fiery red light was observed moving at high speed over Sollefteå, Sweden.

The magazine also includes information about the Swedish Defense Research Agency (FOA), where laboratory technician Sture Wickerts collects UFO reports. FOA receives about 100 sightings annually, most of which can be explained by conventional means like satellites or weather balloons. However, a small percentage remain unexplained.

Other Articles

An article discusses the threat of large asteroids and space rocks colliding with Earth, referencing historical impact craters like the Barringer Crater in Arizona. It highlights the immense energy released by such impacts and mentions specific near-Earth asteroids like Adonis, Apollo, Amor, and Geographos.

Another piece describes a unique 'monster plant' in Denis Moat's garden in England, which grows rapidly and chokes out other vegetation. Moat is shown using pantyhose to support the plant's heavy fruits.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently features UFO sightings and unexplained phenomena, reflecting a strong interest in the unusual and the unknown. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, presenting various reports and scientific perspectives without necessarily endorsing any single explanation. There is a clear effort to document sightings from across Sweden and to provide information about organizations dedicated to researching these phenomena. The inclusion of space exploration, such as the Mars mission, suggests a broader interest in humanity's place in the universe and the potential for discoveries beyond Earth.