UFO Potpourri No 351

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO POTPOURRI
Issue: no. 351
Date: Monday, June 3, 1991
Publisher: ST. LOUIS POST-DISPATCH
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of UFO Potpourri presents a collection of articles touching upon UFO phenomena, space exploration, and potential cosmic threats.

UFO HEATS CAR!

A 26-year-old woman driving on Long Island, New York, on February 4, 1990, reported an encounter with a large, luminous oval-shaped object. The object appeared at treetop level, paced her car on the four-lane highway, and was described as being as wide as the highway. The light from the object was intense, causing her to squint, and she felt significant heat through the car's windshield. The object had a smooth surface with no visible doors, windows, or appendages. At one point, it suddenly rose and sped off to the southeast. The incident occurred with no other traffic present, and the woman was alone and frightened. The article notes similarities to the December 1980 Cash/Landrum case near Houston, Texas, and directs readers to UFO UNIVERSE, August/September 1991, page 5 for further details.

The Opinionated Lucille Ball

This section features a quote from the late actress Lucille Ball, known for her strong opinions. In a conversation with Jim Brochu, author of "Lucy in the Afternoon," Ball recounted an experience where she and her husband, Ronald Reagan, saw a UFO. She expressed wonder about whether he would have still won the presidency if he had publicly disclosed seeing a flying saucer. The anecdote is presented in the context of her views on the Reagans.

Soviets lose costly spaceship and experiment

According to a REUTER NEWS SERVICE report from Moscow, dated May 11, 1991, a Soviet space cargo ship returning to Earth burned up in the atmosphere. This event resulted in the destruction of an important electronics experiment, which Soviet television reported was carrying crystals grown in a weightless atmosphere on board the orbiting Mir-2 space station. The commentator emphasized the experiment's significance to Soviet science. The report is framed as an effort to persuade the public of the Mir station's usefulness amidst general indifference and a series of setbacks. The article also mentions that the current Mir crew, Viktor Afanasyev and Musa Manarov, were scheduled to return to Earth on May 26. It notes that parliamentarians have increasingly criticized the cost of the space program due to the deepening economic crisis.

UFO sighting in Romania

A report from the Houston Chronicle on June 10, 1991, details a UFO sighting in Bucharest, Romania. On the night of May 30-31, many residents witnessed an unidentified flying object moving back and forth in a regular motion. A journalist for Agence France Presse described it as a bright object, clearly visible despite heavy cloud, and estimated to be at an altitude of several thousand feet. However, a Romanian defense official stated that nothing unusual had been observed and suggested the phenomenon might have been an optical illusion or a weather-related trick.

'DOOMSDAY' ASTEROID MAY HIT EARTH

This article, referencing a Houston Chronicle story from June 18, 1991, discusses the potential threat of a 'doomsday' asteroid. Scientists are scanning the heavens for such an object, which is described as hurtling towards Earth at approximately 16 miles per second. The primary concern is determining when it will approach and whether anything can be done to avoid a catastrophic collision, such as using a nuclear blast to alter its course. The asteroid is described as large enough to severely disrupt life on Earth, lofting pulverized rock and dust that would block sunlight, leading to the end of agriculture and the potential extinction of civilization, similar to the event that may have wiped out the dinosaurs 65 million years ago.

The article highlights that no astronomer has yet located such a killer asteroid, but it is considered inevitable that one will appear eventually, and the odds suggest it could happen relatively soon in celestial terms. Experts have calculated the risk of death for an American over a 50-year period from an asteroid impact to be 1 in 6,000, a risk higher than that from airplane crashes, tornados, or fireworks. The article criticizes the current efforts to spot such asteroids, noting that NASA is spending less than $1 million annually, and calls for more telescopes, potentially located in space or on the Moon, to provide the necessary early warning system. It also presupposes the existence of space systems capable of preventing a collision.

RARE ISOTOPE FOUND ON NASA CRAFT

This piece, referencing a March 7, 1991, report from THE TIMES, details the discovery of a rare atmospheric isotope, Beryllium-7, on the surface of NASA's Long Duration Exposure Facility (LDEF). The LDEF was returned from space in January 1990 after nearly six years in Earth orbit. Beryllium-7 is radioactive and naturally produced by cosmic ray reactions in the Earth's atmosphere. The finding is considered unusual because this isotope is mainly produced at much lower altitudes than where the LDEF orbited. The article suggests that an undetermined process efficiently carries the isotope to high altitudes.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue of UFO Potpourri include unexplained aerial phenomena, the challenges and costs of space exploration (particularly concerning the Soviet program), and potential existential threats from space, such as asteroids. The editorial stance appears to be one of reporting on these phenomena and issues, often drawing from news services and other publications, while also highlighting public interest and scientific concerns. The inclusion of Lucille Ball's anecdote adds a touch of celebrity and personal experience to the UFO theme. The publication seems to aim at informing its readers about a variety of topics related to the unusual and the unknown.