UFO-Nytt - 2008 No 2

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO - NYTT
Issue: 2
Volume/Year: 2008
Publisher: Västerbergslagens UFO-förening
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish

This issue of UFO - NYTT, published in 2008 by the Västerbergslagens UFO-förening, presents a collection of UFO sightings and related articles, primarily focusing on historical accounts from Sweden.

Table of Contents

The issue's table of contents (INNEHÅLL) lists various sections:

• Förord (Foreword): Page 2
• Rapporter (Reports): Pages 3-7
• Tror du på det här? (Do you believe in this?): Pages 8-9
• Översatta utländska rapporter (Translated foreign reports): Pages 10-13
• Klipp (Clippings): Page 14
• Björndjur överlever 2 veckors rymdresa (Bears survive 2-week space journey): Page 15
• California: Page 16
• Columbia: Page 17
• Enorma lerskred kan krossa.... (Enormous landslides can crush....): Page 18
• Foo Fighters återkommer (Foo Fighters return): Pages 19-22
• ORDPYSSEL, Klipp.. (Word puzzle, Clippings..): Page 23
• Vad skiljer en asteroid från en komet? (What distinguishes an asteroid from a comet?): Page 24
• Mytologisk grotta hittad under Rom (Mythological cave found under Rome): Page 25

Articles and Reports

Förord (Foreword)

The foreword reflects on the changing seasons and societal issues. The author expresses dismay over the perceived increase in crime and the perceived leniency of the justice system, suggesting that serious offenders should be sent to work in Siberian mines instead of being housed in Swedish prisons. The author also touches upon the spread of pedophilia and the difficulty of self-defense against such individuals.

Rapporter (Reports)

Several sighting reports are detailed:

• Hessdalen (March 31): Synnevi and four friends observed a bright light phenomenon over the valley. The next day, other people in Ålhen reported seeing the same light phenomenon.
• Robbie Williams Har Blivit Besatt,- Av Utomjordingar!!!! (Robbie Williams Has Been Possessed,- By Aliens!!!!): The article discusses the singer Robbie Williams' newfound interest in UFOs and aliens, stating he spends hours researching and watching UFO films. He sees this interest as a way to escape celebrity life, with his fascination stemming from his mother's interest in the paranormal.
• Nära Sala, Västmanland (Late April): Twenty people witnessed a red-yellow, circular object with a powerful light that moved horizontally and vertically at high speed. One observer heard a 'buzz' sound, and an amateur astronomer observed three lights (two green, one red) and heard a singing sound.
• Ore Älv-Bjuråker-Hälsingland (April 24-25 Night): Edvin Åhs, his wife Karin, and son Torbjörn observed a bright white light from an object resembling a car wheel, hovering silently. After three minutes, it descended and the light vanished. Later, Torbjörn saw a similar object moving slowly across the sky. No physical evidence was found at the site.
• Ljusdal-Färila-Hälsingland (April 23, 1967): Police assistant Ove Westberg observed a stationary light object to the right of his car. It was larger than the evening star, shifted colors (white-blue, orange-red), and appeared to rotate internally. The light intensified when it was orange-colored. After 10 minutes, it disappeared behind a mountain. Colleagues who investigated later found nothing.
• Kinna Västergötland (May 15): Farmer Anders Markusson heard a motor sound and saw a large, disc-shaped object ascend rapidly into the sky and disappear within seconds.
• Måga-Ljusdal-Hälsingland (April 17-18, 1967): Bus driver Erik Elfström and his wife Solveig observed a circulating white light from an object that spun on its axis and moved away at high speed towards Vilhelmina. Erik managed to track the object with binoculars until it disappeared.
• Sorsele--Wilhelmina--Lappland (April 10-11, 1967): Landowner Ludwig Jonsson and other residents observed an object in the northwest with four luminous points. It moved and showed different sides, sometimes with two, sometimes four points. The object was described as having a network-like structure and sometimes appeared pointed. It was observed for a long time and seemed to be at a considerable distance.

Rymdexplosion kunde ses från jorden (Space explosion could be seen from Earth)

This short article reports that a star explosion that occurred 7.5 billion years ago became visible from Earth for about 30 seconds. The light traveled for 7.5 billion years, meaning the explosion happened before Earth existed. This phenomenon is described as a 'gamma ray burst'.

Tror du på det här? (Do you believe in this?)

This section, drawing from the book "Oförklarliga fenomen" (Unexplained Phenomena), discusses the psychological and emotional aspects of UFO experiences. It highlights the case of Ruby Morris, who disappeared while camping near a known UFO site. The article touches upon how such experiences can lead to social ostracism and disbelief. It also contrasts the views of Erich von Däniken, who posits ancient astronauts, with those of James Randi, who is skeptical of such claims. The text mentions ancient descriptions of aerial phenomena from Roman times and the Middle Ages, referring to them as 'altars in the sky', 'night suns', and 'Flying Dragons'. The first widely reported UFO sighting is attributed to pilot Kenneth Arnold in 1947, and the term 'flying saucer' is credited to reporter Bill Bequette.

Other Short Items

• Osmakligt (Unpleasant): A short, humorous anecdote about finding a worm in an apple.
• Lågmält (Low-key): A humorous dialogue about the number of roses to give.
• Dyrt hos tandläkaren (Expensive at the dentist): A joke about a dentist's high bill due to the patient's screaming.
• Säljande reklam (Selling advertisement): A humorous story about a real estate agent who decides to keep his house after reading the advertisement.
• Bakvänt (Backwards): A short joke about a late-night husband's comment to his wife.
• Delfin "talade" valar ur dödsfälla (Dolphin "talked" whales out of a death trap): A news brief about a dolphin guiding stranded whales back to sea in New Zealand.
• Bytesrätt (Right of exchange): A short joke about a plant that blooms only once every hundred years.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently features reports of UFO sightings, with a strong emphasis on Swedish cases, particularly from the 1960s. There's an underlying theme of exploring the unexplained and questioning conventional explanations. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-mindedness towards UFO phenomena, while also including skeptical viewpoints and historical context. The inclusion of humorous anecdotes and short news items suggests an aim to engage a broad readership interested in mysteries and the unusual.

This issue of 'Vågornas Budbärare?' (Wave Carriers?), dated October 5th, 1967, focuses heavily on UFO and UAP (Unidentified Aerial Phenomena) sightings, primarily from England, with additional reports from California and Columbia. The magazine also includes articles on historical 'Foo Fighter' sightings from WWII, the resilience of tardigrades in space, geological risks on volcanic islands, and the launch of the Jules Verne ATV.

UFO Sightings in England (October 1967)

The lead article details a significant UFO event on October 5th, 1967, near Okehampton, Devon. Initially reported by the Exeter Evening Echo and other newspapers, a large, stationary, silver disc was observed between 9-9:30 AM. A witness stopped to watch two planes and noticed a disc flashing like a plane's wing, illuminated by the sun, but determined it was not an aircraft. The object was later observed among clouds and then in a clear sky in the same location the next day. The Western Evening Herald and subsequent morning papers on October 10th and 11th reported that many witnesses had seen the object, now described as penn-shaped, at an estimated altitude of 10-15 kilometers. A photographer from RAF Chivenor reportedly stayed to photograph the object from the ground, though a later report on October 17th stated the weather was too poor for photography. The government's Ministry of Defence indicated interest only if the situation posed a defense threat. A Western Morning News report on October 20th suggested experts were quite sure the object was the planet Venus, though the article questions this, pondering if an extraterrestrial body could have been seen near Okehampton on October 5th, -67.

Further reports from October 1967 include:

• October 7th: A boy in Stevenage reported seeing a UFO with his father. They observed a strong light, which became a sausage-like, flaming object moving at high speed. The father commented, "I must admit I don't believe in flying saucers, but this object cannot be man-made, it moved too fast."
• October 13th: In West London, a woman saw a rugby-ball shaped object that was silent and shiny silver, changing to red and back. It moved for about 3 minutes before returning to its original position. Later, it was noted that 50 people in Okehampton, Devon, reported seeing a similar object on the same day.
• October 14th: In Barking, a man observed a bright, star-like object that moved east, stopped, then turned, shone brightly, and flew away rapidly. The object was described as hanging in the air for a few minutes before moving off.
• October 14th: A woman in Northampton saw a gold-colored object resembling a church cross moving towards the ground. She described it as beautiful and noted a shadow around it like a human figure.
• October 19th: A cigar-shaped object was seen over Yorkshire, moving horizontally, then vertically, and disappearing silently. The light from the object increased as it moved away.
• October 21st: In Tyne Dock, South Shields, a family reported three glowing, triangular UFOs moving in formation for 30 minutes before disappearing towards Newcastle. A police officer witnessed the event and was reportedly speechless. The report notes that police statements were not taken seriously.

UFO Sightings in California (2007)

Two reports from California in 2007 are included:

• June 17th: In San Pasqual, a strong, star-like object with a gold-colored top and bronze bottom was observed. It moved slowly, shifted direction, and disappeared rapidly.
• July 11th: In Long Beach, a very bright, silver, disk-shaped object appeared, flashed, disappeared, reappeared, and then vanished permanently. The witness initially thought it was a large airship.

UFO Sighting in Columbia (2007)

• June 10th: In the Metro East St. Louis area, a triangular object of light was observed moving across the sky. The witness, who had 20 years of experience in the US Air Force, stated it was not an aircraft. The object moved faster than a landing plane and continued on a westward course.

Historical 'Foo Fighters'

An article by John B. Ringer revisits the phenomenon of 'Foo Fighters,' the mysterious glowing spheres reported by Allied pilots towards the end of World War II. These objects were described as fast-moving, often orange-colored lights that could perform complex maneuvers and were difficult to shake off. Pilots described them as small, dirty-grey aluminum objects, 3-3.5 meters in diameter, shaped like saucers, with no visible signs of life. Hundreds of reports were filed between April 1944 and August 1945. The prevailing assumption at the time was that Germany had deployed a new superweapon, but the motive remained unclear. The article suggests that Allied governments and their allies may not have been entirely truthful about the extent of knowledge regarding these phenomena.

Science and Nature Articles

• Tardigrades in Space: An article discusses the incredible resilience of tardigrades (water bears), microscopic animals that can survive extreme conditions. Researchers sent tardigrades into space on the Russian Foton capsule for 14 days. Upon return, 80% of the tardigrades revived, demonstrating their ability to withstand cosmic radiation and vacuum. This suggests that simple, robust life forms could potentially spread through space via meteorites.

• Volcanic Island Risks: An article titled 'Enorma lerskred kan krossa semesterparadiset' (Enormous Landslides Can Crush Holiday Paradises) details the geological dangers of volcanic islands like Tenerife. While volcanic eruptions are rare and less of a threat, the primary risk comes from landslides on the volcanic slopes. Thick layers of volcanic material on the seabed indicate past large-scale collapses. When heavy rains saturate the volcanic cone, the layers become unstable, leading to landslides that bury towns and cities, causing tsunamis that devastate coastal areas. Such a catastrophe is predicted to be likely within the next 500 years.

• Jules Verne ATV Launch: The launch of Europe's largest and most advanced cargo spacecraft, the ATV (Automated Transfer Vehicle) named 'Jules Verne,' is reported. This vehicle is designed to resupply the International Space Station (ISS) with essentials like food, water, and fuel. It has a larger cargo capacity than previous Russian Progress vehicles and American space shuttles. The ATV was scheduled to dock with the ISS on April 3rd, following rigorous testing. Sweden contributed a 'monitoring and safety unit' (MSU) developed by Saab Space for the ATV.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently features reports of unexplained aerial phenomena, suggesting a belief in the reality of UFOs and UAPs. The tone is generally investigative, presenting witness accounts and expert opinions, while also acknowledging skepticism (e.g., the Venus explanation). The inclusion of historical 'Foo Fighter' accounts indicates an interest in the long-standing nature of these mysteries. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into unexplained events, encouraging readers to consider possibilities beyond conventional explanations. The magazine also covers a range of scientific topics, from biology and space exploration to geology, suggesting a broad interest in the unknown and the cutting edge of discovery.

This issue of "ORDPYSSEL" (likely a puzzle or general interest magazine, given the title and content mix) from December 2007 (issue 20, volume 4/2008) explores a variety of topics ranging from historical mysteries and scientific advancements to archaeological discoveries and language puzzles. The cover prominently features a question about the difference between asteroids and comets, alongside comic strips and illustrations related to spiders and mythological creatures.

Foo Fighters: A World War II Mystery

The magazine dedicates a significant portion to the phenomenon of 'Foo Fighters' during World War II. It posits that the modern UFO era can be traced back to these sightings, rather than solely to Kenneth Arnold's 1947 observation. The article questions whether Foo Fighters were German in origin, noting Hitler's promises of advanced weaponry. It details Germany's exotic weapons research, including death rays, laser weapons, and flying discs, but suggests that by the end of the war, their resources were too depleted for these to have been widely deployed. The author argues that the Foo Fighter phenomenon cannot be solely explained by German technology, as sightings occurred far beyond German interests and even during the invasion of Normandy.

• Several reports are detailed:
• A B-24 bomber crew observed two airborne objects changing color from dark red to orange, then to white light before turning red again, at an altitude of 3600m over FALA ISLAND on May 2, 1944.
• A B-24 bomber was followed for an hour by a Foo Fighter, which eventually released. Another followed, but stayed 900m away, then sped up and disappeared.
• A B-24 encountered eight intense green flares, one of which exploded at 1600m.
• A B-24-a reported 9 to 10 red flares up to 1600m, with pairs coming within 45 to 90m of the bomber's rear.
• Sergeant Stephen J. Brickner recounts an observation on August 12, 1942, in the Solomon Islands, where he saw a formation of over 150 silver, wingless, wobbling objects flying high above the clouds, moving faster than Japanese planes. He describes it as the most awe-inspiring and terrifying spectacle he had ever witnessed.

The article concludes that Foo Fighter encounters have rarely caused harm to people and that UFO reports came from all war fronts, not just the European theater. It suggests that the Foo Fighter phenomenon is part of a larger, ongoing story.

Astronomy: The Baby Galaxy's True Age

Astronomical observations of the 'Baby Galaxy' (Zwicky 18), once thought to be very young, have been revised. New observations with the Hubble telescope reveal that star formation began at least a billion years ago, and possibly as far back as ten billion years ago, making the galaxy as old as most of its neighbors.

Technology: 3D Scans of Ancient Insects

Advanced digital technology, specifically VHR-CT scanning, is now enabling researchers to create 3D images of insects trapped in amber. English and Belgian scientists have used this technique to create a 3D model of the spider *Cenotextricella simony*, which lived approximately 53 million years ago in France, allowing for virtual dissections.

Science: Asteroids vs. Comets

The main article on the cover distinguishes between asteroids and comets. Asteroids are described as small rocky bodies, mostly found in the asteroid belt between Mars and Jupiter, formed in a region too warm for ice to condense. Comets, on the other hand, are formed further from the sun, in the Kuiper Belt, and contain significant amounts of ice. When a comet approaches the sun, its ice vaporizes, creating a coma and tail. The article uses the example of object P/2007 R5, initially classified as a comet but lacking a coma or tail, which later flared up, indicating a gas eruption from hidden ice layers, thus fitting the description of a comet.

Archaeology: Roman Mythology and Serbian Fashion

Italian archaeologists believe they have discovered the Lupercal cave in Rome, the mythological birthplace of Romulus and Remus. The cave, located 16 meters underground, is circular, 8 meters high, and 7.5 meters in diameter, decorated with mosaics. The discovery supports the theory that Emperor Augustus built his palace nearby to connect himself to Rome's mythical founders.

Separately, Serbian archaeologists have unearthed small clay figures from a Neolithic settlement dating back 7,000 years. These figures depict young women wearing short skirts and crop tops, similar to modern fashion, indicating a sophisticated sense of style among the Vinca culture.

Human Evolution: The Role of Potatoes

Anthropologists suggest that the human ability to break down starch, facilitated by the AMY1 gene responsible for producing the enzyme amylase in saliva, played a crucial role in human development. This allowed early humans to consume starchy foods like potatoes, rice, and carrots, providing extra calories that fueled brain growth, making it a key factor in the evolution of the human brain.

Puzzles and Humor

The magazine also includes a word puzzle section with definitions and word-finding challenges, along with several comic strips and humorous anecdotes. One comic strip features a conversation about a 'watchdog' that barks when suspicious things are heard, and another about a vacation that was 'just rain' but resulted in a tan, attributed to 'rust'. A joke about a guest with 'laughter cramps' is resolved by showing them the hotel bill.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine exhibits a broad interest in historical mysteries, scientific exploration, and archaeological discoveries. There's a clear fascination with unexplained phenomena like Foo Fighters, presented with a critical yet open-minded approach, examining various theories and evidence. The editorial stance appears to favor presenting diverse reports and scientific findings, encouraging readers to consider different perspectives on complex subjects. The inclusion of language puzzles and humorous content suggests an aim to engage and entertain a wide audience.