UFO Potpourri No 434

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO POTPOURRI
Issue: No. 434
Date: June 2000
Publisher: John F. Schuessler
Country: USA
Language: English

This issue of UFO POTPOURRI focuses on the intersection of UFO phenomena with medical and physiological considerations, featuring a survey conducted by physicians and exploring the potential health impacts of UFO encounters.

Physicians Take Survey

The lead article details a UFO survey conducted in 1992 by David Gordon, MD, and his wife, also a medical doctor. Their aim was to establish the veracity and scope of UFO sightings and contact reports by surveying members of their HMO practice. A total of 1050 low-acuity HMO members were asked if they had ever seen a UFO. Members with known significant mental illness were excluded. Of those surveyed, 115 (11%) reported having seen a UFO based on specific criteria, such as exhibiting flight characteristics unknown to modern aircraft. Sixty of these objects were close enough to be sketched, while 55 were described as nocturnal lights with non-ballistic motion. Notably, only two of the 115 individuals reported their sightings to authorities.

Furthermore, the survey investigated contact with entities and abduction experiences. Eight members (0.8% of the total surveyed) reported an involuntary UFO contact or abduction, and four members (0.4%) reported visual contact with UFO entities without abduction. Gordon emphasizes that most members reporting these experiences were known to him personally for several years and had no history of mental disturbance, with medical records available for confirmation. The implications of these findings, if replicable, suggest that contact with non-earth intelligence may not be rare, could affect people's health, and might be kept secret until directly inquired about by a trusted physician.

The article cites several sources supporting the discussion, including a conference on anomalous personal experiences at MIT, articles from the Boston Globe and International UFO Reporter, a book by David Jacobs, and a Roper Survey on anomalous personal experiences.

Abduction Effects on the Human Circadian Clock

This section delves into the potential physiological effects of UFO abductions, specifically on the human circadian clock. It references an article in *Science* magazine about the core mechanism of the master circadian clock and its role in regulating physiological and behavioral timing. The author poses questions for medical committee members regarding the use of knowledge about the circadian clock to measure and test the extent and duration of abduction experiences, and whether abduction experiences could cause permanent changes to the circadian clock. It also questions if non-invasive techniques could be used to detect such changes.

Abduction/Physiological Effects

Following up on the theme of physiological effects, this section discusses the MUFON Field Investigator's Manual, which categorizes distinct physiological effects in UFO cases, including those resulting from abduction experiences. It references a book by Berthold E. Schwaarz, MD, titled “Psychiatric and Paranormal Aspects of Ufology,” which details the experience of a grandmother named "Lois." Lois encountered a UFO in Arkansas in September 1986 and described encountering tall, noseless individuals and smaller, robot-like beings. She reported feeling confused, sick, and disoriented, experiencing what she described as a 'boomerang aerial object' and a feeling of being inside a craft. She recalled driving and stopping due to nausea and disorientation.

Abductees Report Similar Ailments

This part of the issue discusses a report from Filer's Files #20-2000, where MUFON Maryland State Director Bruce Maccabee, Ph.D., comments on the suggestion that many abductees suffer from Chronic Fatigue Syndrome (CFS), Fibromyalgia, and similar ailments. Maccabee relays information from Dr. Gabriel Merkin, who suggests that fibromyalgia might be a term for an unknown infection, sometimes curable with long-term antibiotics. Merkin's work on unculturable bacteria and 'nanobacteria' is mentioned. The question is raised whether abductees contract illnesses from ET contact, and conversely, if ETs contract illnesses from humans. It is posited that the 'quality' of a person's immune system, influenced by their physical and mental health, might make them susceptible to 'ET diseases' if their immune system is compromised at the time of contact.

UV Blamed for Burns in Some UFO Cases

This section explores the phenomenon of burns reported in UFO cases and other sometimes life-threatening injuries. It references new information from *Biophotonics International* (May/June 1999) regarding the effects of UV light. UV light is described as damaging DNA by kinking it, leading to mutations during cell repair and replication. Professor Virginia Walbot of Stanford University is cited, explaining that UV may also harm DNA through transposons, which are DNA segments that move within chromosomes, causing mutations. The article also notes that UV radiation causes vitamin A deficiency, while ultraviolet radiation in sunlight has a detrimental effect on vitamin A, which is essential for growth, development, and tissue maintenance.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the scientific and medical investigation of UFO phenomena, particularly focusing on the prevalence of sightings and abductions, and their potential physiological and psychological impacts on individuals. The editorial stance appears to be one of serious inquiry, presenting data from surveys and medical professionals to explore these phenomena, rather than dismissing them. There is an emphasis on the need for further research and the potential for these experiences to be more common and impactful than previously acknowledged, especially within the medical community.