UFO-Revyn - 1998 2

Magazine Overview

Title: UFO-REVYN
Issue: Nr. 2
Volume/Year: 1998
Publisher: Föreningen UFO-Trestad
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish

This issue of UFO-Revyn, the member's journal for Föreningen UFO-Trestad, presents a comprehensive look at the UFO-Sweden National Meeting held in Västerbergslagen, featuring a photo report. It also dedicates significant space to exploring the controversial topics of dowsing rods and earth radiation, questioning their validity and exploring potential connections to UFO phenomena. The magazine includes several book reviews, updates on UFO-Trestad's activities, and discussions on the broader UFO movement.

Editorial: Att göra en skog av några löv...

Jörgen Bengtsson, the chairman, addresses the challenges of marketing ufology to the public and the scientific community. He notes that UFOs are often dismissed as myths and charlatanism by academics, hindering any productive communication. Bengtsson identifies two main reasons for the serious UFO movement's struggles: the problematic name 'UFO' itself, which is laden with misconceptions, and the failed attempts to turn UFO interest into a mass movement. He argues that scientific inquiry is often perceived as tedious, leading ufologists to compromise scientific rigor for commercial appeal. Bengtsson emphasizes that UFO-Trestad's mission is to critically examine theories, observations, and the UFO movement itself with a neutral and consequence-aware approach, highlighting that scientific progress inherently involves criticism and questioning.

Latest News (Senaste nytt)

UFO-Trestad launched its website on March 11th, described as informative and serious, attracting over a thousand visitors despite initial technical issues. The organization sent out school material regarding Mars to a student in Huddinge. The magazine 'UFO-Revyn' was available at the public library in Trollhättan, though Vänersborg's copy was lost. The issue highlights the challenge of recruiting new members, noting that the organization relies heavily on the dedicated work of a few individuals. It questions whether the interest in UFOs, particularly scientific ufology, is as high as believed. An upcoming UFO exhibition in Falkenberg during the summer of 1998 is mentioned.

The UFO-Sweden National Meeting took place on April 25-26 in Ludvika, attended by Jörgen Bengtsson, Roger Skoog, Tony Ekberg, and Peter Magnusson from UFO-Trestad. The event featured social gatherings, food, entertainment, and interesting lectures. A key decision was to create a membership category for investigation groups. UFO-Trestad was responsible for the nomination committee's work, and while the chairman was re-elected, the position of treasurer remained vacant, to be filled by the board. Stockholm UFO-förening will host the next national meeting. UFO-Trestad has also been tasked with compiling the UFO-Sweden handbook for field investigators.

A field investigator course is scheduled for the last weekend of August in Björsjö.

Report from UFO-Sweden's National Meeting

Roger Skoog reports on the UFO-Sweden National Meeting held on April 25-26 in Björsjö and Ludvika. The UFO-Trestad delegation traveled from Mellerud, picking up members along the way. The meeting at Björsjö skogshem included the internal affairs of UFO-Sweden, where UFO-Trestad presented its proposals for the board. The election of a new treasurer was postponed. The public part of the meeting took place in Ludvika at Kyrkskolan, featuring an exhibition, sales of UFO material, and presentations.

Clas Svahn presented on 'UFO Images: Can We Trust the Camera?', discussing authentic versus fake UFO photos, noting that about 90% of observations occur at night. Mikael G. Peterson gave a talk on 'When Gods Landed: The UFO Enigma as a Religious Experience,' exploring messages from extraterrestrials. Inga-Lill Wallin presented on the 'Martebomyr Light Phenomenon,' suggesting most lights were likely car headlights. Gudrun Andersson, chair of Västerbergslagens UFO-förening, presented 'UFO Reports from Dalarna.' The final presentation was by Richard Svensson on 'Strange Events and Unknown Creatures that Puzzle Science,' focusing on cryptozoology.

The report mentions that the attendees had to leave before the Q&A session due to travel distance. The journey back was smooth, and the experience of participating in the national meeting made UFO-Trestad feel more integrated into UFO-Sweden. The author notes that the UFO issue fascinates all social groups.

Unresolved Mysteries: Close Encounters with Angle Rods & Earth Radiation

Roger Skoog investigates dowsing rods and earth radiation. Initially skeptical, he built and tested two angle rods (vinkelpinnar) based on a book. He found that the rods moved significantly, indicating the presence of underground water pipes and a drainage pipe in his garden, and even an electrical cable. He notes that his wife also got similar readings without knowing the locations. He suggests that while locating pipes and cables might be achievable through unconscious hand movements, the phenomenon itself remains unexplained.

Skoog then discusses the potential connection to UFO phenomena, mentioning concepts like earth radiation, Curry, and Hartmann grids. He questions whether the ability to detect these energies with dowsing rods could be linked to UFO sightings, such as earth-light phenomena. He posits that if these energies can be detected, a scientific instrument should be able to measure them, but notes that such tests have not yielded consistent results under controlled conditions. He also touches upon the idea that the dowser, not the rod, is the receiver, which he finds unscientific. The article concludes by mentioning that dowsing is believed to detect water veins, though groundwater is typically found in horizontal layers, and that metal deposits can also be detected. A scientific explanation might involve sensitivity to magnetic fields, which can be measured with a magnetometer, suggesting a link to variations in the Earth's magnetic field.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around the UFO phenomenon, its scientific investigation, and the challenges faced by UFO organizations. There's a strong emphasis on critical analysis and scientific methodology, as articulated in the editorial and the report from the national meeting. The article on dowsing rods and earth radiation highlights the exploration of fringe phenomena and the debate between skepticism and belief. The book reviews and discussions on UFO reports indicate a commitment to documenting and analyzing UFO-related events. The overall stance of UFO-Trestad, as stated in their mission, is one of scientific inquiry, critical examination, and an agnostic approach to the UFO mystery, open to all possible solutions, including the possibility that UFO phenomena may not exist.

This issue of UFO-Aktuellt, dated 1998, is a Swedish publication from UFO-Sverige, focusing on UFO phenomena, related scientific and pseudoscientific topics, and astronomical observations. The cover story debunks the famous 'Sphinx' formation on Mars. The magazine features articles, book reviews, and news from the UFO community.

Articles

The 'Sphinx' on Mars Revealed

The lead article, "Det var en naturlig klippformation! - 'Sfinxen' på Mars avslöjad" (It was a natural rock formation! - The 'Sphinx' on Mars revealed), discusses the famous 'face-like' formation on Mars photographed by the Viking probe in 1976. For years, this image was cited by ufologists as evidence of artificial structures. However, new images from the Mars Global Surveyor probe in April 1998 clearly show it to be a natural rock formation, an illusion created by light and shadow. The article notes that while this mystery is solved, other Martian features like pyramids and forts remain unexplained.

UFO Film from Vänersborg Under Investigation

Another significant article details the ongoing investigation into a UFO film taken on August 23, 1997, near Vänersborg, Sweden. The film, shown publicly for the first time at a UFO-Sverige meeting, has been analyzed by the Swedish Defence Staff, who found no natural explanation and ruled out known military or civilian air traffic. A theory that the objects might be birds has led to the film being sent to an ornithologist for examination. Copies have also been sent to UFO-Norway and NATO for further study. UFO-Aktuellt plans a major article on the film.

UFO Observation Outside Jönköping

This section reports on a UFO sighting that occurred in June 1997, west of Jönköping. Two men in a car observed a silent, oval object with white headlights and red and green lights. They estimated its size to be about 40 cm at arm's length. The object moved slowly and then disappeared. Despite contacting the local airport and newspaper, no corroborating sightings were reported. The article suggests a plausible explanation: the observers may have mistaken a low-flying aircraft for a UFO, with the rain and car windshield distorting the view of its lights and potentially muffling engine noise. The observation was not reported to UFO-Sverige until later, and the witnesses wished to remain anonymous.

Earth Radiation and Dowsing

An article titled "Jordstrålning?" (Earth Radiation?) explores the phenomenon of earth radiation and dowsing. It notes that while dowsing rods have been used since the 15th century to find various underground features, the concept of earth radiation itself is not well-defined in scientific literature. The article mentions experiments from the 1960s suggesting that muscle tension in dowsers could react to variations in magnetic fields around geological faults. However, it dismisses the idea that only biological systems can detect radiation, calling it 'pure nonsense.' A double-blind experiment conducted by Jacob Eberhardt at Lund University found no evidence of earth radiation, concluding that scientific methods require verifiable proof, unlike the theories often presented by dowsers and New Age proponents.

"Ut i det blå..." (Into the Blue...)

This section contains miscellaneous commentary from the UFO community, including updates from UFO-Trestad. It mentions an anonymous criticism of their website layout, the challenges of organizing a UFO exhibition in Falkenberg, and humorous anecdotes from a UFO-Trestad meeting, including a secretary being 'forced' to dance and a discussion about a 'UFO elk.' It also touches upon an incident where members were pressured to buy materials.

Book Reviews

Several book reviews are featured:

• "UFO-mysteriet" by Clas Svahn: This review praises Svahn's comprehensive overview of high-interest UFO cases and his detailed examination of crop circles, both in Sweden and internationally. The reviewer highlights Svahn's use of firsthand sources and calls the book a significant contribution to the field.
• "Förunderligt och märkligt" by Lena Katarina Swanberg: This book is described as a personal journey through the Swedish New Age movement, covering topics like astrology, healing, and numerology. The review notes that UFOs are only marginally covered and criticizes the book for its lack of scientific analysis and excessive personal reflections, deeming it unengaging.
• "UFO-Uppslagsboken" by Clas Svahn & Mikael Sjöberg: This review describes the book as a glossary of UFO terms, intended to be a helpful resource for those interested in the phenomenon. While acknowledging that some terms are missing in this first version, it is recommended as a good overview of common UFO terminology.

Current Astronomy

Jörgen Bengtsson provides an update on astronomical events for the summer of 1998. He discusses the visibility of planets like Jupiter, Venus, and Mars, and highlights the Perseids meteor shower in August. Star charts for the Northern Hemisphere are included.

Current Constellation: Cygnus

Another astronomical piece focuses on the constellation Cygnus (the Swan), also known as the Northern Cross. It details prominent stars like Deneb, Albireo, and Sadr, and mentions celestial objects within the constellation, including star clusters M29 and M39, and the famous radio galaxy Cygnus A and X-ray source Cygnus X-1.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The magazine consistently adopts a critical yet open-minded stance towards UFO phenomena. While reporting on sightings and investigations, it often provides skeptical analyses and plausible explanations, particularly for cases that can be attributed to misidentification of conventional aircraft or natural phenomena. The editorial stance appears to favor scientific rigor and verifiable evidence, as seen in the critique of dowsing and the debunking of the Mars 'Sphinx.' There is also a focus on documenting UFO-related activities within Sweden, including reports from local UFO groups and reviews of relevant literature. The magazine serves as a platform for both reporting on unexplained cases and critically examining claims within the UFO field.

Title: Rymdens ord:
Issue: 1
Volume: 1
Date: 1977
Publisher: Roger Skoog
Country: Sweden
Language: Swedish

Cover Story and Illustrations

The cover of 'Rymdens ord:' features a striking illustration by Roger Skoog. It depicts an alien character, identified as Mr. E. Tea from the distant planet Lipton, encountering what he perceives as a UFO for the first time. In the background, a Scandinavian Airlines (SAS) airplane flies through a celestial landscape populated with planets. The headline, 'Rymdens ord:' (Words of Space), sets a tone of cosmic exploration and mystery.

Exposing UFO Hoaxes

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to debunking the mystique surrounding UFO sightings, particularly photographic evidence. Page two presents a photograph that appears to show a classic saucer-shaped UFO descending for a landing in Grinstad, Sweden. However, the accompanying text, also by Roger Skoog, immediately reveals the illusion.

Skoog explains that this is not a genuine UFO but a simple model he constructed and photographed. The 'dome' of the craft is merely a common lightbulb, and the entire object was suspended by a thread to simulate flight. The purpose of this demonstration is to illustrate how easily 'flying saucer photos' can be fabricated. The text explicitly warns readers, 'Don't believe everything you see in books and magazines...' ('Tro inte på allt som syns i böcker och tidningar...'), urging a critical approach to sensational claims.

Key Themes and Editorial Stance

The primary themes explored in this issue are UFOs, skepticism, and the art of photographic manipulation. The magazine takes a clear stance against the uncritical acceptance of UFO phenomena, using Roger Skoog's illustration and photographic demonstration to highlight the potential for deception. By showing how a convincing UFO image can be created with simple means, the publication encourages readers to question the authenticity of similar evidence presented elsewhere. The issue implicitly advocates for critical thinking and a grounded approach to extraordinary claims, suggesting that many apparent mysteries have mundane explanations or are outright fabrications.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

This issue of 'Rymdens ord:' appears to be a standalone publication or the first issue of a series focused on speculative topics, particularly UFOs. The editorial stance is one of critical inquiry and a healthy dose of skepticism. Rather than presenting UFOs as an undeniable reality, the magazine uses the medium of illustration and practical demonstration to question the validity of commonly presented 'evidence.' The emphasis is on educating the reader about how such phenomena can be misrepresented or manufactured, fostering a more discerning audience. The recurring theme is the importance of questioning what is presented as fact, especially in popular media concerning unexplained phenomena.