UFO Potpourri No 272

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO POTPOURRI
Issue: no. 272
Date: Saturday, June 2, 1984
Publisher: The Houston Post
Country: USA
Language: English

Articles

Expert: Consistency of reports requires studies of UFOs

This article features J. Allen Hynek, head of the Center for UFO Studies and professor emeritus at Northwestern University. Hynek asserts that people who report UFOs have seen something, but the explanation remains to be determined, whether it's psychological, an unknown earthly phenomenon, or alien spaceships. He highlights that thousands of unidentified flying object reports collected globally display a "strange consistency" and cannot be explained by ordinary means, thus constituting a phenomenon worthy of study. A computer analysis of 400 well-substantiated cases indicated that the reported properties of UFOs are "totally inconsistent with those of everyday objects and phenomena." Examples include objects that can hover noiselessly and then instantaneously take off with tremendous speed. Hynek suggests that the "whole UFO phenomenon may tell us more about ourselves than it does outer space."

The latest on UFOs and E.T.s

This article, by Steven Findlay of USA TODAY, summarizes discussions from a meeting of the American Association for the Advancement of Science. Houston space engineer James Oberg stated that most UFO sightings have been explained, with many 1960s reports traced to Russian spacecraft tests. However, J. Allen Hynek reiterated his findings on the "strange consistency" and "totally inconsistent" properties of reported UFOs compared to everyday objects. The consensus presented is that there is no proof of alien visitation to Earth.

The article also touches upon psychic phenomena, with magician and skeptic James Randi calling most reports hoaxes, while Stanley Krippner of the Center for Consciousness Studies suggests they might be extensions of human senses. The consensus here is also "still no proof, but we should keep looking."

Regarding extraterrestrial intelligence, Cornell University astronomer Frank Drake estimates there could be as many as 10,000 civilizations in the universe. The challenge remains: "If there are 10,000, where are they; why haven't we found them, or they us?" Eric Jones of the Los Alamos national laboratory notes that neighbors could be within 100,000 light-years, questioning the delay in contact. Science fiction author Isaac Asimov concludes with a hopeful "Keep searching."

Advertisement for MUFON Symposium

This section announces the 15th Annual UFO Symposium, sponsored by MUFON of San Antonio and Mutual UFO Network, Inc., to be held July 6-7-8, 1984, at the Holiday Inn North (Airport) in San Antonio, Texas. The symposium is described as a forum for presenting the latest information on UFO sightings, physical trace cases, visitations, abductions, and government involvement and cover-up of UFO evidence. MUFON is highlighted as having access to and publishing UFO sighting reports from around the world, investigated by its international liaison of representatives, and possessing a staff of reporters and columnists with doctorates in their respective fields.

Contact Information

Contact information is provided for John F. Schuessler at P. O. Box 58485, Houston, Texas 77258-8485, under the heading "(POTPOURRI NEWS)".

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the scientific investigation of UFOs, the nature of reported sightings, and the possibility of extraterrestrial life and psychic phenomena. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry, presenting expert opinions that range from skepticism to cautious optimism, while emphasizing the need for continued study and research into these complex subjects. The inclusion of the MUFON symposium advertisement suggests an alignment with organizations actively engaged in UFO research and data collection.