RESEARCH DIGEST

Magazine Overview

Title: RESEARCH DIGEST
Issue: 37
Date: November/December 1993
Publisher: UFO RESEARCH AUSTRALIA
Country: Australia
Compiler: Keith Basterfield

This issue of Research Digest focuses heavily on UFO sightings, particularly a recurring theme of 'orange lights' observed across Australia. It also includes research notes on abduction phenomena, psychological syndromes, and a discussion on the detection of potential extraterrestrial craft.

Cases from the Network: Orange Lights Continue!

The issue begins by highlighting the continued increase in reports of orange lights and clusters of orange lights, with observations noted in Sydney, Perth, Adelaide, and Tasmania.

Several specific cases are detailed:

• UFORA93092 (May 29, 1993, Launceston, TAS): Two witnesses observed two silent orange lights moving in unison from the north, passing over the city centre and moving south into fog. The weather was overcast with clouds between 400-700m.
• UFORA93075 (June 1993, Thornlie, WA): A group sighted a bright orange light travelling from east to west at a fairly quick pace. It crossed the face of the full Moon and was described as a rotating 44-gallon drum shape with an antenna-like structure. Its height was estimated at 600m, and no sound was heard.
• UFORA93084 (July 11, 1993, Broome, WA): Three people watched a bright, star-like object travel from north-east to north-west. The light was orange and pulsed from bright to dull, travelling in an undulating fashion.
• UFORA93090 (August 22, 1993, Keperra, QLD): A woman saw three bright red/orange lights in an 'L' formation at a high altitude. They were stationary for 10 minutes before drifting away slowly to the left and disappearing. Checks with the weather bureau, AMF, RAAF, observatory, TV stations, SES, and Civil Aviation revealed no causes.
• UFORA93082 (August 28, 1993, Chidlow, WA): Two orange-yellow lights were observed moving from west to east, with one travelling behind the other. The rear light stopped, accelerated towards the first, and repeated these maneuvers for about 15 minutes before being lost due to distance.
• UFORA93087 (September 2, 1993, Adelaide, SA): An amateur astronomer observed an unusual object, a cluster of five circular objects about 1/2 degree across, moving in a straight line from south-west to north-east. The objects were yellow/orange, emitted their own light, and had a haze around them. Adelaide radar and the local Adelaide Advertiser reported no other sightings.
• UFORA9073 (June 1, 1993, Myaree, WA): A computer technician reported seeing green, red, and blue lights shaped like an inverted bunsen burner. After the object rose and headed towards him, his car's engine died. A plane was reportedly following the object.
• UFORA93074 (June 2, 1993, Karratha, WA): A man reported a bright white light travelling west to south-east that dropped vertically downwards at the end of its course.
• UFORA93076 (June 7, 1993, Rivervale, WA): A policeman and his son saw two very bright lights in the sky, appearing stationary, with two light planes circling them and a third aircraft some distance away.
• UFORA93077 (August 19, 1993, Perth, WA): A woman saw a formation of three lights close together with a slight high-pitched alternating resonant hum audible.
• UFORA93078 (August 23, 1993, Mullaloo, WA): A large triangular shaped object with a pinkish glow was seen moving slowly.
• UFORA93079 (August 24, 1993, Wilson, WA): A blue light travelled north-east to south in about 8 seconds, changing to white colour when it emerged from behind trees. A roar like a jet was heard.
• UFORA93080 (August 26, 1993, Willagee, WA): Three white, slightly fuzzy lights in a triangular formation moved from east to south-west. The rear lights separated and rejoined their original positions over 8 seconds.
• UFORA93081 (August 28, 1993, Doubleview, WA): A greenish-white object with a tail shot from north to south, split into three pieces, and disappeared, possibly a meteor.
• UFORA93083 (May 26, 1993, Broome, WA): An amateur astronomer saw three lights in a triangular arrangement travelling in the same direction, visible only through a telescope.
• UFORA93085 (1987, Kununurra, WA): A group saw what looked like a bus in the desert with rows of lights, and later a large, domed object. Photos were taken of both.
• UFORA93086 (July 11, 1993, Broome/Kimberley area): Dozens of people described seeing a burning, bright, green ball of light hurtle through the skies, likely a meteor.
• UFORA93088 (April 26, 1993, Goomeri, QLD): A man driving a truck reported a bright light that followed his vehicle for an extended period, hovering, retreating, and reappearing multiple times over several hours.
• UFORA93089 (June 29, 1993, Lutwyche, QLD): A man noticed a white 'star' moving south, visible through binoculars.
• UFORA93091 (May 10, 1993, Bicheno, TAS): A bright light was seen moving low over the sea, curving up, spiralling down, performing a figure of eight, and moving back and forth.

New South Wales Update

Bill Chalker of UFOIC Sydney reported 103 UFO reports from January to early July 1993, with 45 of these being orange lights. Sydney had been experiencing an outburst of these orange lights for about a year. Twenty-two cases were classified as 'interesting', including 13 potential CE4-abduction events.

Research Notes

1. Abduction Research: An article in the Journal of Abnormal Psychology by Dr. Nicholas Spanos reported on psychological tests given to 49 people who had observed or claimed to have been onboard a UFO. Compared to a control group, the UFO reporters showed no significant differences in intelligence, tendency to fantasize, or suggestibility. The only significant difference was a higher likelihood of having a previously established belief in UFOs.

2. False Memory Syndrome (FMS): This section discusses FMS, where repressed memories of childhood abuse emerge but are not real. The scenario typically involves a person seeking therapy for other issues, leading to the retrieval of suppressed memories, often of abuse, which can result in legal charges. The problem highlighted is that these recovered memories may have been generated by the patient and therapist, and can be proven to have never happened.

3. Exploding Head Syndrome: This phenomenon, recently scientifically documented, involves individuals reporting loud noises (a tremendous roar or bang) that occur nocturnally, usually during the hypnagogic/hypnopompic states (between sleep and wakefulness). It is not associated with pain and can be described as a thunderclap or explosion, sometimes with an associated flash of light. The exact cause is unknown.

4. Abduction 'Marks': Some abductees report transient 'rashes' or marks associated with abduction experiences. While some researchers suggest psychosomatic explanations, others argue they are made by aliens. The issue also mentions documented instances of circular wounds appearing and bleeding, such as one reported in the UK magazine NFortean Times, which may shed light on abduction marks.

5. Asteroid Data: The section questions why astronomers don't pick up UFOs if they are extraterrestrial spacecraft, referencing the recent detection of a 10m asteroid much closer to Earth than the Moon. This raises questions about UFO invisibility or their interdimensional nature.

New Books

• "Into the Fringe" by Karla Turner (1992): This book details the author's and her family's experiences with physical symptoms, exploration of abduction literature, regression hypnosis, and the appearance of physical marks of unknown origin.
• "The Allagash Abductions" by Raymond Fowler (1993): This book investigates a joint abduction scenario experienced by four men in 1976, with two of them recalling scoop marks on their bodies.

Recurring Themes and Editorial Stance

The recurring theme throughout this issue is the prevalence of UFO sightings, particularly the 'orange lights' phenomenon, which has been ongoing for about a year in some regions like Sydney. The magazine also takes a stance of investigating and reporting on various aspects of UFO research, including psychological and physiological phenomena associated with alleged encounters, and critically examining evidence and theories. The editorial stance appears to be one of open inquiry into unexplained phenomena, presenting reported cases and research findings for the reader's consideration.