НЛО. ТАЙНЫ НЕПОЗНАННОГО

Magazine Overview

This issue, 'UFO. Mysteries of the Unknown', Issue 2, delves into various unexplained aerial phenomena and alleged extraterrestrial encounters, primarily focusing on reports from Russia. The cover features a striking illustration of a UFO and highlights articles on alien residences, interplanetary travel, and witness testimonies, with a nod to the scientific imagination of K. E. Tsiolkovsky.

Articles and Reports

The Residence of Humanoids Near Yaroslavl

This section, written by Valery Kukushkin, details an expedition to an anomalous zone near Yaroslavl, following up on reports from a witness named Gusev. Kukushkin recounts his initial skepticism but describes how persistent accounts of strange phenomena, including descriptions of beings with unusual leg structures, led him to investigate. The article references historical UFO reports and biblical descriptions that bear similarities to modern accounts. The expedition involves visiting Gusev's former village and exploring the area, noting peculiar geological features and magnetic anomalies that affected compasses. The narrative highlights the challenges of investigating such phenomena, the need for careful documentation, and the psychological impact on witnesses.

A Trip to Another Planet and Back in One Night

This article presents the extraordinary account of Irina, a young woman from the Zavolzhsky district, who claims to have traveled to another planet overnight. Initially dismissed as a prank call, Irina's persistent insistence and her seemingly normal demeanor convinced the editorial staff to investigate. She recounts being taken by a tall, white-clad woman through a locked door and into a spherical craft. Inside, the craft's walls resembled mirrors, and the floor was covered in soft, silver material. The flight itself was seamless, with no sensation of movement or engine noise. They landed on a planet in the Canis Major constellation, where the landscape was covered in a green, carpet-like surface, and indistinct figures roamed. Upon returning, Irina experienced a profound sense of information transfer. She also claims to have had subsequent contacts with extraterrestrials, during which she allegedly demonstrated healing abilities, including significantly increasing her child's hemoglobin levels and alleviating her mother's headache. The article notes that Irina's claims were met with a mix of skepticism and belief, even leading to experimental demonstrations at a UFO conference.

Cheboksary – Contact Zone?

This section, based on an article by E. Arsyukhin published in 'Continent', details a series of unusual events in Cheboksary starting in October 1980. Thousands of residents reported hearing a siren-like sound, observing a bright point that transformed into a giant blue oval, and witnessing an explosion of yellow sparks. Following these events, the city experienced poltergeist activity and people reported dreams of non-corporeal beings seeking equality with humans. The article highlights the ongoing presence of UFOs over the city, with a dedicated club investigating the phenomena. Astronomer-amateur Nikolai Khomyakov has documented multiple objects, including a 20-meter diameter sphere, transport ships, and a dumbbell-shaped object, as well as a transparent object emitting radio radiation. Khomyakov believes these are automated probes from an extraterrestrial civilization.

Heavenly Guests and Again They Visited

This article presents eyewitness accounts of UFO sightings, particularly one in the village of Zabelino, Tutaevsky district. Six people, including relatives and friends, reported seeing a luminous object that grew larger as it approached, resembling a bomb with a bright light emanating from its center. The object then moved away at a sharp angle. Another witness, V. Zhukov from St. Petersburg, described a cigar-shaped object with a blue-white glow, which flew silently along the Volga River before disappearing. A. Zolnikov, a retired Air Force officer, observed the entire trajectory of the object, describing its main part as resembling a sperm whale's head made of bright light, with a smaller, shell-like object emitting light. The article discusses various interpretations, including the possibility of advanced military technology or atmospheric phenomena, but leans towards the idea of a spacecraft launch, comparing the observed phenomena to known characteristics of rocket launches.

Summer Evening in Zaozyorye

This personal account describes a visit to the village of Zaozyorye, where the author and companions experienced a UFO sighting. While observing the night sky, they witnessed an enormous, luminous object resembling a spinning top, with powerful searchlights around its perimeter. The object moved silently and then changed shape, resembling a bus, before disappearing. The author expresses a sense of awe and wonder rather than fear, feeling that they had witnessed something profound and mysterious. The experience led to discussions about potential alien communication and the nature of their visits.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue revolve around unexplained aerial phenomena (UFOs), alleged encounters with extraterrestrial beings, and the investigation of these events. The editorial stance appears to be one of open-minded inquiry, presenting witness testimonies and scientific observations without outright dismissal, while also acknowledging skepticism and exploring various explanations, from advanced technology to paranormal occurrences. The issue encourages readers to consider the possibility of non-human intelligence and the ongoing mystery of UFOs.

This issue of "Apostol" (Issue 1, Volume 1, dated January 25, 1993) focuses on the intriguing topic of 'Five Minutes from the Life of Ghosts' (ПЯТЬ МИНУТ ИЗ ЖИЗНИ ПРИВИДЕНИЙ). The magazine explores paranormal phenomena, including ghosts, poltergeists, and UFOs, presenting both historical anecdotes and scientific or pseudoscientific explanations.

Ghosts and Apparitions

The magazine begins by acknowledging the long history of ghost stories across cultures. It cites historical figures like Plutarch, Socrates, Cicero, and Pliny who believed in the existence of phantoms. Anecdotes are shared, such as a story involving the poet A. S. Pushkin and Count Lansky, where a mysterious young man reportedly influenced their views on the afterlife. Empress Anna Ioannovna is mentioned as having been visited by a ghost shortly before her death. The article also touches upon modern sightings, like the 'White Lady' in Estonia and a reported apparition in a photograph from the Queen's House in Greenwich.

Psychological and Scientific Explanations

While presenting these accounts, the magazine also seeks rational explanations. It discusses how psychological factors like distorted perception, self-suggestion, and hallucinations can create the illusion of ghosts. The phenomenon of 'false ghosts' is explained through mental strain and overwork, citing the experience of Russian academician B. Nikolai who reported seeing a corpse repeatedly. The concept of hallucinations is further elaborated upon, linking them to imbalances in brain activity, as described by I. P. Pavlov. The article also mentions the experience of a student at a mining faculty who mistook a mine support for a figure.

Poltergeist Phenomena

A significant portion of the magazine is dedicated to poltergeist activity, described as 'noisy spirits' or 'Барабашка'. The article details numerous documented cases from various Russian cities, including Moscow (1982), Yenakiieve (1986-1987), Klin (1987), and Kemerovo (1987-1988). These cases often involve unexplained electrical disturbances (lights flickering, appliances malfunctioning, meters spinning), spontaneous fires, objects moving on their own, strange noises, and the appearance of apparitions or shadows. The Kemerovo case describes a family experiencing a dark gray shadow and physical sensations of being choked. The article notes that poltergeist activity often occurs in the evening and on weekends, and seems to be more active in the presence of witnesses.

Hypotheses on Poltergeists

Several hypotheses are presented to explain poltergeist phenomena:

1. Spontaneous Poltergeist: This theory suggests that individuals enter a unique psychophysical state, akin to instant self-hypnosis, enabling them to perform extraordinary actions unconsciously.
2. Induced Poltergeist: This involves 'natural' hypnosis, potentially induced by a person with specific abilities or a 'sorcerer,' often hired by someone with a vested interest to create conflict.
3. Provocative Poltergeist (False): This is attributed to deliberate mystification by individuals with ulterior motives.
4. Parallel Worlds Hypothesis: This theory posits that poltergeist activity results from interactions between our world and a parallel universe composed of super-penetrating elementary particles with unique properties.
5. Extraterrestrial Life: The possibility of alien intervention is also mentioned, though framed as a more fantastical explanation.

The magazine also discusses the impact of poltergeists on people and animals, noting that pets often become agitated or try to escape, while some animals show unusual behavior or curiosity.

UFOs and Extraterrestrial Intelligence

The issue connects paranormal phenomena to UFO sightings. It references N. Roerich's 1927 account of a bright aerial sphere in Tibet and K. Arnold's 1947 sighting of flying discs, marking the official recognition of the UFO problem. The article highlights that the concept of unidentified flying objects has a much longer history, with mentions by Pliny and Aristotle. K. Tsiolkovsky, the renowned rocket scientist, is presented as a witness to anomalous aerial phenomena, having seen a 'white aerial sphere' himself. He believed in the existence of highly developed extraterrestrial civilizations that might interact with Earth, potentially influencing human affairs. Tsiolkovsky's theories on space and evolution are discussed, suggesting that advanced civilizations might visit Earth for observation or research. The concept of 'parallel worlds' is revisited, with Tsiolkovsky's idea that beings from finer matter might exist and occasionally interact with our reality.

Notable Features

The magazine includes a crossword puzzle titled 'Flying Saucer' (КРОССВОРД «ЛЕТАЮЩАЯ ТАРЕЛКА») with clues related to science, philosophy, and space. It also provides answers to a previous crossword. An advertisement invites readers to the Yaroslavl Regional Center 'Health' for a meeting of the 'Club of Psychics' on the third Wednesday of each month.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring themes in this issue are the unexplained, the paranormal, and the search for rational explanations for phenomena that defy conventional understanding. The magazine adopts a stance that acknowledges the existence of these phenomena while exploring various scientific, psychological, and speculative theories. It seems to lean towards a belief in the reality of these events, even if their causes remain elusive, and encourages further investigation and open-mindedness. The editorial stance appears to be one of curiosity and a desire to bridge the gap between the known and the unknown, presenting a blend of factual accounts and theoretical explorations.