UFO Potpourri No 420

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO POTPOURRI
Issue: No. 420
Date: October 1998
Publisher: John F. Schuessler
Contact: 9862 West Unser Ave., Littleton, CO 80128, E-Mail: [email protected], Web Page: http://home.mho.net/schuessler/

This issue of UFO POTPOURRI, published in October 1998, focuses on two significant reports concerning UFOs and the potential implications of extraterrestrial life.

The Brookings Institution Report

The lead article delves into a report submitted by the Brookings Institution to the NASA Committee on Long-Range Studies on November 30, 1960. Titled "Proposed Studies on the Implications of Peaceful Space Activities for Human Affairs," the report aimed to explore the social, economic, political, legal, and international ramifications of using space for peaceful and scientific purposes. Robert D. Calkins, President of Brookings, stated in his transmittal letter that the report recommended a wide range of studies and that its objectives would be served by generating research activities both within and outside NASA.

The report was submitted to the U.S. House of Representatives in House Report No. 242 on April 18, 1961, and was ordered to be printed. A section of particular interest, "THE IMPLICATIONS OF A DISCOVERY OF EXTRATERRESTRIAL LIFE," is highlighted.

Key points from the Brookings Report include:

• Artifacts (Page 215): The report notes that publicity surrounding efforts to detect extraterrestrial messages has legitimized speculations about the impact of such a discovery on human values. It considers the possibility of semi-intelligent life within our solar system or highly intelligent life elsewhere. Face-to-face meetings are not expected within 20 years, but artifacts left by such life forms might be discovered on the Moon, Mars, or Venus through space activities. Contact within 20 years is more likely to be via radio, indicating beings of at least equal technological level.
• Unity of Man (Page 215): The knowledge of extraterrestrial life could foster greater unity among humans on Earth, based on a sense of shared humanity or the "oneness" of man, or it could be perceived as a threat from a stranger.
• Society Disintegration (Page 215): The discovery might inspire space efforts, but anthropological records show that societies sure of their place in the universe have disintegrated when forced to associate with unfamiliar societies with different ideas. Survival often comes at the price of altered values and behaviors.
• Withholding Information (Page 216): The report raises questions about how such information would be presented or withheld from the public and the roles of scientists and decision-makers in releasing such facts.
• Religionists (Page 225): Fundamentalist and anti-science sects, which are growing globally, might find the discovery of other life "electrifying," potentially gaining a very influential following.
• Devastating to Scientists and Engineers (Page 225): Scientists and engineers might be the most devastated by the discovery of superior creatures, as their professions are tied to mastering nature. Advanced understanding of nature could invalidate existing theories and require a culture inaccessible to Earth scientists.
• Avoiding the Question (Page 226): When asked about the consequences of discovering superior life, audiences often avoided answering, suggesting the idea is foreign or anxiety-provoking. Reactions to creatures of approximately equal and communicable intelligence are also unclear.

Credit for reviving this material is given to Robert Bletchman of MUFON.

Scientists Agree to Open X-files on UFO Data

This section reports on a panel of nine US scientists who have concluded that Unidentified Flying Objects (UFOs) are worth studying and that compelling physical evidence exists, warranting greater investigation. The panel was organized by Peter Sturrock, a physicist from Stanford University, and funded by philanthropist Laurance Rockefeller.

Key points from the scientific panel's findings:

• Compelling Physical Evidence: The panel found "compelling physical evidence" that something is occurring which is not understood. This evidence includes photographs, radar data, soil damage near alleged landing sites, burns to witnesses, and unexplained radar detection of flying objects.
• Not Necessarily Extraterrestrial Intelligence: While the evidence is intriguing, the scientists do not necessarily see it as proof of "extraterrestrial intelligence." They state that UFOs are precisely that – unidentified flying objects – and any further precise identification remains speculative.
• Scientific Rigor: The panel's report, published in the Journal of Scientific Exploration, emphasizes the importance of focusing on physical evidence rather than witness testimony. Professor Sturrock noted that while some evidence might be explained by rare natural phenomena or atmospheric conditions, other cases defied explanation.
• Contrast with Condon Report: The new report differs from the 1968 Condon report, which concluded that further UFO investigation was a waste of time. The Sturrock panel, conversely, believes further work is useful and should be conducted.
• Encouragement from UFO Community: Graham Birdsall, editor of UFO Magazine, expressed encouragement that scientists are willing to dedicate time and energy to studying the UFO question and acknowledge phenomena worthy of study.
• Overcoming the "Giggle Factor": Peter Sturrock hoped that scientists would overcome the "giggle factor" associated with UFO studies and be motivated by curiosity to conduct good science on the subject.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The issue highlights a shift towards a more serious, scientific approach to the UFO phenomenon. The Brookings Institution report, from 1960, explored the profound societal and philosophical implications of discovering extraterrestrial life, touching upon themes of human unity, societal change, religious reactions, and the potential impact on scientific understanding. The 1998 article showcases a contemporary scientific panel that, while cautious about definitive conclusions regarding extraterrestrial intelligence, advocates for rigorous investigation of physical evidence associated with UFO sightings. The overall stance appears to be one of encouraging open-minded, evidence-based inquiry into phenomena that remain unexplained, moving beyond dismissive attitudes.

Themes: UFOs, Extraterrestrial Life, Scientific Investigation, Societal Impact, Government Reports, Scientific Panels.

Tags: UFOs, Brookings Institution Report, NASA, Extraterrestrial Life, Scientific Panel, Peter Sturrock, Laurance Rockefeller, Physical Evidence, Radar Data, Societal Impact, Religion, Scientists, Technology, UFO Magazine, Journal of Scientific Exploration.