UFO-Nytt - 1990 No 2

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO-nytt
Issue: nr 2 1990
Publisher: Västerbergslagens UFO-förening
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish

This issue of UFO-nytt, published by the Västerbergslagens UFO-förening, serves as a newsletter for its members, providing updates on UFO-related activities, reports, and astronomical news. The magazine is published four times a year. Membership for 1990 is priced at 75 SEK, with a reduced rate of 25 SEK for those under 16. The membership fee is payable via postgiro number 16099-4.

Table of Contents

The issue features a detailed table of contents, outlining the various sections:

• Page 3: Foreword
• Page 4: Association News
• Pages 5-7: Investigation Group
• Pages 8-12: Report Central
• Pages 13-17: Continuation of 'A New Research Model'
• Pages 17-21: Various Articles
• Pages 22-23: News from Totte
• Page 24: Article about the Universe

Editorial Team

The editorial team consists of Birgit Sälgström, Torsten Karlsson, Ingmari Strömberg, and Gudrun Andersson, along with others who contribute to the magazine's production.

Foreword

The foreword, written by Chairman Gudrun Andersson, recounts a personal UFO sighting of an object standing on the ground. The author describes being woken by a strange, irritating sound and seeing a light and a humming noise outside. The object, described as having four legs and being somewhat different from a typical flying saucer model, was visible for a short period. While the author initially tried to identify the 'builder' of this UFO among local UFO enthusiasts, it turned out to be a humorous prank. The author notes that this 'Stimmerbo UFO' has become a local attraction and good advertisement. The foreword concludes with a wish for a warm and pleasant summer for the readers.

Association News (Föreningsnytt)

This section details the proceedings of the VBU's (Västerbergslagens UFO-förening) annual meeting held on January 28, 1990. Nineteen members were present. Three new members were elected to the board, replacing those who had resigned. The revised statutes were adopted without discussion. Key points from the meeting minutes include:

• Item 9: Proposals for amendments and additions to the association's statutes were presented and approved.
• Item 10: New board members were elected:
• Birgitta Andersson was elected as a board member for one year.
• The following were elected as deputies: Torsten Karlsson, Anita Strömberg, Mårten Kleman, Thor-Leif Andersson, Conny Persson, and Roger Andersson.
• Item 11: The composition of the 1990 board is listed as: Gudrun Andersson, Ing-Marie Strömberg, Börje Eggestad, Berit Bergqvist, Birgit Sälgström, Birgitta Andersson, and Lars Andersson.
• Item 12: Per-Olov Persson and Elis Jansson were re-elected as auditors.

Members interested in the new statutes can request them from the association by phone or mail. The contact information provided is VBU, Tel. 0240/791 46, or Box 99, 77701 Smedjebacken.

Summer Sky

This section discusses astronomical events. Astronomers have reportedly discovered a new comet, the Austin comet, in New Zealand, described as sensationally bright and spectacular. The main astronomical event of the summer is the total solar eclipse on July 22. This eclipse's path of totality, 170 kilometers wide, will stretch from Helsinki to Joensuu in Finland. A British tour operator is planning a Concorde flight to follow the eclipse, costing 130,000 SEK per ticket. The next total solar eclipse visible in Sweden will not occur until October 16, 2126.

Investigation Group (Undersökningsgruppen)

The investigation group is currently assembling an 'investigation kit' containing materials useful for UFO investigations. They have managed to save up for this kit, emphasizing the importance of gathering factual data to increase the credibility of UFO case investigations. The group believes that all reports should be disseminated to interested members. They express regret that some reports have not appeared in UFO AKTUELLT or the internal magazine, but acknowledge the good work of Anders Liljegren and his colleagues in spreading reports. The group is pleased with the cooperation with AFU (Archives for the Unexplained), which archives all reports and offers UFO reading material at a reasonable price. They hope to have the 1989 compilation translated into English, as the 1988 compilation is already complete. They are seeking translators for this task. The group also plans to highlight older, significant UFO cases and is working on a UFO exhibition for the Dalarna region. They intend to conduct more information meetings in the coming years.

UFO Reports from Stora Skedvi, Säter Municipality (1989-09-02)

This report, authored by Johan Kinneryd, compares observed phenomenon paths with the presumed flight path of an aircraft. The phenomenon was observed around 22:00-22:30, moving primarily north-south. An airplane reportedly landed at Dala Airport at 22:15, with its approach normally from the southeast. The presumed flight path was plotted on a map. Airport control personnel indicated that the aircraft passed Nyberget around 22:05. The conclusion drawn is that the observed phenomenon's path does not contradict it being an airplane, and the timing is also partially consistent. The report notes that it is not confirmed if witnesses saw the phenomenon and the aircraft simultaneously. A witness in Falun reported seeing something resembling an airplane flying from northeast to southeast near the harbor, passing Nyberget and Stora Skedvi between 22:10-22:15, flying at a low altitude. The report suggests that if the exact timings are not strictly adhered to, the pattern becomes clear: witnesses likely saw a DC9 flying at a low altitude on its approach to Dala Airport. Alternatively, some witnesses might have seen the same aircraft departing towards Stockholm shortly after. The report includes a map illustrating the observed paths and flight times.

Report Central (Rapportcentralen)

This section presents several recent UFO reports:

• July 23, 1989, Falkenberg (17:00): Three anonymous individuals observed a star-sized object spinning in the sky for 8-10 minutes. The object reflected sunlight and stopped three times for approximately 5 seconds each. The weather was clear with a light wind. Handler: Leif Lissjanis.
• December 11, 1989, Leksand (08:54): A bus driver reported seeing a slow-moving object in the air, described as yellow like a full moon with a small black dot on its left side. The object resembled an American football and had a yellowish, flame-like appearance. It was approximately 4 cm long and 1.5 cm high. The weather was clear with a thin cloud passing between the observer and the object. The driver lost sight of the object after taking a sharp turn. Handler: Pär-Anders Långsvens, Siljansringen.
• January 5, 1990, Rättvik (06:00): Louse Olsson observed a ball-like object with a tail moving rapidly across the sky. The object was yellow with a bluish tail and appeared to be quite close. The sighting lasted a very short time, 5-10 seconds. Handler: Pär-Anders Långsvens, Siljansringen. This report includes a sketch of the phenomenon.
• January 19, 1990, Söderbärke (07:25): An anonymous fisherman reported a large light, initially thought to be an airplane, descending near a lake. The light was oval-shaped, the size of a full moon, and disappeared quickly over the forest. No sound was heard, and the weather was clear and windless. Handler: Gudrun Andersson, Västerbergslagens UFO förening. This report includes a sketch of the phenomenon.
• January 21, 1990, Boda Kyrkby (05:25): Sven-Erik Jelker, a farmer, saw a strange, glowing object from his window. Initially thinking it was burning, he then observed clear contours of an object on the ground. The object then lifted off and ascended. The object itself was black and estimated to be about 15 meters in size. The weather was clear with a light wind. Handler: Pär-Anders Långsvens, Siljansringen. This report includes sketches of the phenomenon and the observation area.
• January 22, 1990, Ljugaren (08:00): An anonymous person reported seeing a violet-blue light in a field. Due to heavy snow, it was impossible to investigate the area for tracks. No sound was heard, and the weather was very cloudy. Handler: Pär-Anders Långsvens, Siljansringen. This report includes a sketch of the phenomenon.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around UFO sightings, the systematic investigation of these phenomena, and the dissemination of information within the UFO community. The Västerbergslagens UFO-förening appears to be an active local group dedicated to documenting and analyzing UFO reports. The editorial stance is one of serious inquiry, encouraging detailed reporting and investigation while also acknowledging the occasional humorous or personal accounts, such as the 'Stimmerbo UFO' prank. The magazine also connects UFO phenomena with broader astronomical interests, highlighting celestial events and discoveries. There is a clear emphasis on factual reporting and the importance of gathering evidence, as evidenced by the work of the investigation group and the detailed case files presented.

This issue of UFO-NYTT, dated 1990, focuses on UFO (Unidentified Flying Object) reports and research methodologies. It includes several detailed witness accounts from Sweden and the USA, alongside articles discussing the approach to investigating such phenomena.

UFO Sightings and Encounters

The magazine presents a series of documented UFO incidents:

• Ludvika, Sweden (February 10, 1990): Ingrid Arve reported seeing a small, disk-like object with a bright yellow glow in her bathroom window. The object appeared to dissolve into a smoke-like pillar before becoming a small orange point of light. The observation lasted approximately 30-60 seconds.
• Biorlänge, Sweden (February 23, 1990): Ake observed a star-sized object moving at high speed without any audible sound or visible lights. It disappeared into light clouds after about 20 seconds.
• Tullsjö-Bollebyggd, Sweden (February 28, 1990): Anonymous witnesses described a banana-shaped object with orange, blue, and red lights. The object hovered at a distance of about 200-300 meters, then descended slowly. The witnesses felt a strong sense of unease.
• Sala, Sweden (March 26, 1989): Thomas Broo and a friend saw a blank, black, three-cylindrical object moving slowly without sound. It was approximately 15 meters long and 5-6 meters in size, moving northwest.
• Stöpafors, Sweden (Date unspecified, likely 1989-1990): A series of observations of a bright, multi-colored light object hovering over the area. The object was described as flat with a long body and three lights at the rear. It was seen by multiple people, and attempts to contact local airports and police yielded no explanation.
• Gapern, Sweden (Date unspecified, likely 1989-1990): Markus Josephson, 14, signaled a rectangular light in the sky with a flashlight, and the object responded by blinking. The Josephson family, including mother Ulla Britt, witnessed and photographed the phenomenon, which was described as a large, luminous object that moved erratically and changed colors.
• Värmland and Dalarna, Sweden (Period unspecified): Reports of hundreds of people seeing unexplained lights moving in the sky during a period of high UFO activity.
• Near Fryken, Sweden (Date unspecified): A man reported seeing an unknown object lift from the water under a bridge and ascend rapidly.
• Gulf Breeze, Florida, USA (February 8, 1989): A man and his son witnessed a disk-shaped object, about 90 cm in size, land in a clearing. It emitted green and red lights and a hissing sound before disappearing after being illuminated by a flashlight.
• Gulf Breeze, Florida, USA (November 24, 1987): A woman and her son observed a rotating, disk-shaped object with red and white lights. A red sphere detached from the object and ascended out of sight.
• Somerville, Ohio, USA (January 18, 1989): A man, his wife, and two children observed three oval objects hovering low over trees for nearly two hours. The objects emitted lights of various colors and moved erratically.

New UFO Research Methodology

An article by John L. Spencer, a specialist in UFO investigations, critiques current UFO research methods. Spencer argues that investigators often lead witnesses to conform to a pre-existing narrative or report, rather than allowing the witness's own experience to be the primary focus. He proposes a new methodology centered on witness-led investigations, where the researcher adopts a passive role and listens carefully to the witness's account, emphasizing their emotional and psychological reactions. Spencer believes this approach is crucial for understanding the true nature of phenomena like alleged alien abductions.

He criticizes the tendency to filter witness accounts through the lens of existing UFO lore, suggesting that this can mask the actual significance of the experience for the witness. Spencer uses the example of Clifford, who saw silver-clad beings and believed them to be ancestral spirits, and how Cynthia Hind interpreted this as extraterrestrial visitors. He posits that if UFO research were conducted by different cultural groups, the interpretations would reflect their own cultural backgrounds.

Spencer quotes Francis Bacon: "If a man begins with certainty, he shall end in doubt; but if he begins with doubt, he shall end in certainty." He suggests that a witness-led approach might initially yield more contradictory and less coherent narratives but will ultimately lead to a deeper understanding.

Contributions and Debates

Birgit provides commentary on Spencer's article, agreeing with the need for more time and resources dedicated to personal contact with witnesses. She stresses the importance of field researchers remaining impartial and avoiding leading questions. She invites readers to share their opinions on how field researchers should work.

Another section discusses VBU's report handling, noting that reports primarily focus on the phenomenon itself (appearance, color, movement) with little information about the witness. It suggests that personal contact is necessary to understand the witness's experience, aligning with Spencer's view that the witness's experience is more important than the UFO itself.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue consistently emphasizes the importance of the witness's perspective in UFO research. There is a clear critique of traditional, investigator-led methods, advocating for a more empathetic and open approach. The magazine highlights the need for new frameworks to understand UFO phenomena, suggesting that current methods may be inadequate. The editorial stance appears to favor a more open-minded and less dogmatic approach to UFO investigation, valuing the subjective experience of witnesses and encouraging debate on best practices.

This issue of MUFON UFO Journal, dated November 1989, features a collection of articles covering UFO sightings, historical mysteries, and scientific cosmology. The magazine's content is primarily in Swedish, with some translated reports and original Swedish articles.

UFO Reports

Indiana Sighting

A report logged on July 8, 1989, details a sighting in Plainfield, Indiana. A witness was awakened by a bright light and observed a disk-shaped object approximately 600 meters from her window. The object had two rows of yellow, blue, and white lights. Independently, a neighbor also reported seeing a bright white light in the same location. The neighbor experienced a peculiar event where he found himself in another room without knowing how he got there, noting he has angina and difficulty walking.

Belgian UFO Fever

Two reports from the Tidningarnas Telegrambyra AB (TT-DPA) detail a 'UFO fever' in Belgium. The first report (891218-2000) describes a discotheque owner in Halen who amused himself by creating a UFO phenomenon using laser beams. This led to public excitement and even prompted the air force to consider scrambling a fighter jet, but the police eventually traced the source and stopped the hoax.

The second report (891210-2005) discusses a similar 'UFO fever' in eastern Belgium near the German border, where mysterious flying objects were sighted. Over 150 witnesses reported phenomena that military and scientists could not explain, with speculation pointing to a laser installation from a discotheque. The Belgian radio encouraged UFO enthusiasts to bring cameras to the site.

Japanese TV UFO

A news item from Tokyo, Japan, reported by Fuji TV on New Year's Day, showed footage of a clear, luminous object that changed color between yellow and red. The object moved slowly and was clearly visible on the TV screen. The filming occurred outside a central city and was witnessed by several people. Military and aviation authorities were contacted but could not provide an explanation.

Personal Reflections on UFO Data

Torsten Karlsson, a UFO enthusiast, writes about his 'database,' which he describes as modest, compiled from various sources like ANDRA databases and TT's news archives. He mentions receiving a call from someone in Småland inquiring about his database. He also notes the frequent occurrence of simultaneous sightings in Japan and Sweden, finding it thought-provoking given the geographical distance.

Karlsson also touches upon the role of his organization in clarifying UFO cases, stating that while many have natural explanations, the unexplained ones are particularly interesting. He shares two 'fun' telegrams, one being the Japanese TV report and the other a report about the Belgian UFO fever, hinting that UFO enthusiasts might have been involved in exposing the Belgian hoax.

He also mentions a planned trip to Peru that was announced in a previous issue, stating that he has not heard back from the organizer in Gothenburg and will follow up.

Mysteries and Science

The Mystery of the Pyramids

Anders Palm, writing for 'Hemmets Journal,' discusses the construction of the Egyptian pyramids. The common belief is that massive stone blocks were quarried and dragged to the site. However, Professor Joseph Davidovits of Barry University in the USA proposes an alternative theory: the blocks were cast from cement in ancient molds. Davidovits claims to have analyzed samples dating back 9,000 years, predating the pyramids by 4,000 years. He notes that modern cement used in renovations of ancient Greek and Italian buildings wears away faster than the original material, suggesting the ancient cement was more complex. He also points to hieroglyphic texts that might describe the creation of artificial stones. While many researchers dismiss Davidovits' ideas, citing the texts were written long after the pyramids were built and ignoring historical accounts of stone transport, the debate continues.

Our Expanding Universe

Roland Gyllander writes about recent cosmological research concerning our universe. The article, titled "Porridge full of lumps: New research findings about our universe," discusses findings from the COBE (Cosmic Background Explorer) satellite. COBE measures the cosmic microwave background radiation, which is a remnant of the Big Bang. The satellite's measurements, presented at a conference in Washington, confirm the Big Bang theory, suggesting the universe began about fifteen billion years ago with an extremely hot, dense explosion.

The early universe was so hot and dense that radiation and matter were inseparable. After about 300,000 years, it cooled enough for neutral atoms to form, allowing radiation to travel freely. This 'background glow' has since expanded and cooled to just 2.7 degrees above absolute zero.

However, the COBE data revealed that this background radiation is remarkably uniform, lacking the expected 'lumps' or irregularities that would have allowed gravity to form structures like galaxies. This uniformity challenges current models of how the universe evolved from a smooth state to the complex structure of galaxies and stars observed today. The article questions how such structured formations could arise from a uniform, expanding 'porridge' where gravity would have no leverage to clump matter together.

Despite the lack of 'seeds' for galaxies detected by COBE, the existence of countless galaxies is undeniable. The article mentions that our own solar system resides in the Milky Way galaxy. To explain the abundance of galaxies, theories involving 'dark matter' and 'cosmic strings' are mentioned. Furthermore, recent measurements suggest the existence of vast 'walls' of galaxies, forming a 'lamellar system' throughout the visible universe, implying that the universe is indeed 'lumpy'. The article concludes by posing the question of how these large-scale structures formed if the early universe was as smooth as COBE's measurements suggest.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently explores unexplained phenomena, particularly UFO sightings, and presents them alongside scientific and historical investigations. There's a clear interest in alternative theories, as seen in the discussion of pyramid construction. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting both reported events and scientific perspectives, encouraging readers to consider various possibilities. The inclusion of a 'UFO-database' section and personal reflections from UFO enthusiasts like Torsten Karlsson highlights a community-focused approach. The magazine also engages with broader scientific topics, such as cosmology, demonstrating a wide scope of interest within the realm of the unexplained and the frontiers of knowledge.