UFO PHENOMENA
Editor: Roberto FARABONE
Magazine:UFO PHENOMENA
Language:English


an international annual review devoted to the scientific study of ufo phenomena

Immagine non disponibile3
Year:1979
Publisher:Editecs, Bologna
Issue:VOL. III N. 1
Description:356
Contents
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AuthorTitlePag

Editorial
R. FARABONE, F. IZZO, R. CABASSIWhy Still "UFO PHENOMENA"?3-7

Scope and purpose 8

Instructions to Authors 8-12

Acknowledgments 12

PHYSICAL ASPECTS
E. J. BETINISOn the chance of witnessing celestial or aerial events15-29
Abstract: The chances of witnessing celestial or anomalous aerial events are derived by considering the volume of sky available primarily to the ground-based observer as compared to the entire earth's atmosphere at a height of about 15 kilometers. The fraction of time spent observing compared to a twenty-four hour day and the fraction of volume of sky for observing are also used. Aircraft pilots' and astronomers' chances are also given some consideration. The results are applied to the chances of detecting meteors and anomalous aerial events. The conclusions indicate that the chance of witnessing an anomalous event (UFO) is extremely low and even improbable. Thus reconciliation with data gathered on reports of witnessing anomalous events implies a 'selectivity'. A further conclusion is that the presence of a few fast-moving anomalies could account for the global scale of the reports of anomalous aerial phenomena.
B. S. MACCABEEAnomalous lights in the daylight sky31-67
Abstract: Several observers, one of them a technical competent employee of a military installation, observed two very bright lights or luminous objects in a clear, midday, summer sky. The lights were observed to remain apparently stationary and also to approach and recede along different trajectories. The duration of the observation was from three to five minutes. Despite an intensive investigation the objects remain unidentified.

GATHERING and PROCESSING of DATA
W. SMITH, M. GUASP, V. J. BALLESTER OLMOSDramatic chase in Spain71-85
Abstract: A family of five, returning home at night by back roads, was followed by a bright light which chased the car persistently over a distance of about 40 Km for almost an hour. When approaching the village of Cheste (near Valencia, Spain), the UFO, now at a close range, moved ahead and above the car, and extended legs. The incident was terminated by the approach of another vehicle, moving in the opposite direction on that usually deserted road. One of the witnesses (age 15) was violently ill during the incident, and indisposed for some time afterwards. Damage to the battery of the automobile was attributed to the incident, and it had to be replaced the following day.
E. BERGER1954/55 The Austrian share87-134
Abstract: Masses of UFO experiences were reported at Austria in the 1954/55 period 99 of which remained unidentified. The hard core of the material consists of gendarmerie/police reports collected by the Austrian government and for the first time released to Ernst Berger in 1973. 28 case histories, the most interesting part of the material, are presented in detail. By means of a full statistical analysis methodically equal to an earlier study by BERGER on 1972-77 Austrian report patterns structures of the 1954/55 flap are extracted and compared with the results of VALLEE, BERGER and others.

The "CE III"
J. SCORNAUXConsiderations on the nature of humanoids137-176
Abstract: The nature of humanoids reported by UFO witnesses remains very controversial. Their existence as intelligent extraterrestrial beings meets very much reticence in the human mind. There is undoubtedly a mental block caused by fear, but there are also more elaborated arguments. The resemblance between Man and humanoids is one of these, but the question of the resemblance that other intelligent beings may bear to us remains very open among biologists. I do not think that human imagination can explain the appearance of humanoids. In general, they resemble us both too much and too little. An argument against the material nature of the humanoids is that their morphology is far too variable from one case to another. Several answers are possible to this objection. But a more fundamental argument is based on the instant or on the spot disappearance of humanoids. I now give a few examples of this behaviour, both in the open air and in confined spaces. I propose the explanation that these cases are projections of images, created either by electromagnetic waves or by some parapsychological means. But all the ufonauts are not images, or perhaps only a part of the observation corresponds to a projection because some of them left footprints or had physical contact with the witnesses. I also give a few examples of such cases. I present several hypotheses about the nature of material humanoids and discuss the concept of a 'reassuring' hypothesis. I propose foe discussion the hypothesis that part of the humanoids might be human beings captured by the beings governing the UFO phenomenon.

PSYCHOLOGICAL and PERCEPTIVE ASPECTS
L. R. SPRINKLEUsing pendulum technique in the investigation of UFO experiences179-218
Abstract: The purpose of this paper is to provide information about technique for uncovering subconscious memories, so that UFO field investigators may consider the technique for possible use in investigations. The pendulum technique is described, with references to historical development and contemporary usage. Procedures are presented for learning the use of the pendulum technique, including illustrations to guide the interested reader. A brief review is presented of the literature on field investigation of UFO experiences; an emphasis is given to the reports of Close Encounters of the Third Kind (CE III), including reports of 'loss of time', or partial amnesia, which may occur during UFO sightings. Results of using the pendulum technique are described in two UFO cases: one case obtained preliminary information about a possible 'loss of time' experience during a UFO sighting; the second case obtained preliminary information about a possible 'hidden' UFO experience. The UFO cases are presented as examples for preliminary investigation of the CE III experiences. When field investigators obtain information about CE III cases, they are encouraged to consider possible arrangements for a consultant in hypnosis to assist UFO witnesses in exploring and evaluating their subconscious memories of their UFO experiences.
A. H. LAWSONHypnosis of imaginary UFO "abductees"219-258
(Italian translation Documenti UFO Monografie vol. 3 /1984 Ipnosi di rapiti UFO immaginari, pp. 22-72)
Abstract: In an attempt to evaluate objectively the claims of UFO 'abductees', imaginary abductions were induced hypnotically in a group of volunteers who had non significant knowledge of UFOs. Eight situational questions comprising the major components of a typical abduction account were asked of each subject. Although the researchers expected major dissimilarities, an averaged comparison of data from four imaginary and four 'real' abduction narratives showed no substantive differences. Also, extensive patterns echoing well-established details from 'real' UFO reports emerged from the 'naive' subjects' imaginary sessions. There is as yet no satisfactory explanation for the patterns and other similarities between imaginary and 'real' abductions. But, more significantly, there are parallels between these patterns and the 'image constants' or recurrent descriptions of forms, color, and movement reported by subjects in drug-induced hallucination experiments, and in so-called 'death' narratives, among other mental processes. Thus there is reason to accept at least some parts of 'real' abductees' stories as accurate reflections of what their sensory mechanisms have reported. However, despite the many similarities, there are crucial differences - such as alleged physical effects and multiple witnesses - which argue that UFO abductions are separate and distinct from imaginary and hallucinatory experiences. With these distinctions in mind, an abduction model is proposed: Witnesses really perceive images - from whatever source - such as bright and pulsating lights, lattice-textured forms moving randomly in the sky, lighted tunnels, humanoid figures, etc. These abduction constants are combined with data from the imagination, memory, and existing UFO data known by witnesses to create a 'real' UFO encounter. The subjective reality of the intense hallucinatory structure convinces the witnesses that the entire experience is a physically real event. Subsequently they may report the 'truth' as they have experienced it, although actual occurrences remain unclear. The complexities of the UFO phenomenon are affirmed by the above model since still unexplained are many puzzling matters, including the greatest mystery of all, the nature of the stimulus which initiates the imagery in the witness and so triggers the abduction sequence. The writer prefers a dualistic UFO hypothesis. But while there is a continuing absence of unambiguous physical evidence, this study concludes that UFOs are - in psychological terms - unquestionably real, and further, that non-physical UFO research is promising.
R. F. HAINESUFO drawings by witnesses and non witnesses: is there somethings in common (part II)259-271
Abstract: Previously, the author found that no readily discernable differences could be found between drawings of 'what a UFO looks like' by people who claims to have seen one from others who claim never to have seen one (Haines, 1977). Since this finding may have resulted simply from the relatively small sample size (136 valid drawings) further tests were administered. The mean results of 458 more valid drawings are presented here. The results may be summarized by pointing out that the 'Have' seen group drew (1) a higher percentage of valid i.e., not ludicrous drawings, (2) a higher percentage of UFO shapes at some angle relative to the edge of the (drawing) card, (3) a higher percentage of two or more shapes on the card, (4) a lower percentage of shapes in side or isometric view, and (5) a lower percentage of symmetrical drawings. Neither the mean width-to-height ratio of the UFO outline shape or its dome (if drawn) differed between the two participant groups. Also, the other major UFO outline and dome measurements were not drawn differently by either group. Finally, and perhaps more significantly, the 'Have' seen group drew a smaller number of miscellaneous details such as apertures (Windows?), markings, wavy lines around the shape, etc. These findings are compared to those obtained in the previous study and discussed in terms of the perceptual impact the UFO encounter appears to have on one's willingness and/or ability to reproduce a UFO shape.
C. RIFATA theoretical framework for the problem of non-contact between and advanced extra-terrestrial civilization and mankind: symbolic sequential communication versus non-symbolic non-sequential communication273-288
Abstract: A general set of ideas is proposed to suggest that advanced extraterrestrial intelligence (ETI) might, probably, never be interested in communicating with such a primitive species as ours. According to the author, symbolic sequential language is the most primitive kind of language intelligent beings may use. Advanced intelligences may better communicate via a non-symbolic non-sequential language, which is able to convey much more bits of information per unit of time at a low cost of distortion, thus nearly eliminating the problem of cloudy symbolic concepts which is so huge a factor of noise in human communication. What is most interesting is that we may well be in presence of a terrestrial species having evolved a more advanced mode of communication: the dolphin!

EPISTEMOLOGY of the RESEARCH
I. GRATTAN-GUINNESSAre UFO psychic phenomena?291-304
Abstract: Students of UFO phenomena nowadays mostly regard their work as a branch of psychical research. In this paper I explore the possibilities of connections and similarities between UFO and psychic phenomena.

IN UFO AREA
M. PITTELLAA statistical survey among Italian astronomical observatory307-314
Abstract: This statistical survey was performed between the years 1977 and 1978, among the most important 14 astronomical and astrophysical observatories in Italy. It had the purpose to probe the opinion of a major slice of the Italian scientific community about the UFO subject and to know whether the staff of some observatories had directly sighted some UFO phenomena. This informative test did not supply us with new and unexpected information. However it is a clear document emphasizing the mediocre standard of information and sensibility of the scientific environment upon the UFO question. Such an investigation, if addressed to other scientific circles too and regularly repeated, could be a suitable way to assess time to time possible developments of the scientific opinion about the UFO subject.
R. FARABONE, F. IZZO, R. CABASSIOfficial data request in Italy315-319

David M. JACOBSState of Art 325

Symposia and Meetings
Richard F. HAINES1978 BUFORA Conference325-328
Vicente-Juan BALLESTER OLMOSRecent developments in Spanish ufology328-331

Read in Literature
Francesco IZZOSocial Intelligence About Anomalies332-333
Roberto FARABONELogique et Recherche Ufologique334-336
Link:
Lumières dans la nuit Année 21 N. 180 Décembre/1978 - Logique et recherche ufologique [Viéroudy, Pierre]

Book Reviews
Ron WESTRUMCes OVNIs Qui Annoncent le Surhomme336-338
Book:Pierre VIÉROUDY,CES OVNI QUI ANNONCENT LE SURHOMME - 1977

In Short
Francesco IZZOAbout OVNIs: El Fenomeno Aterrizaje339
Book:Vicente-Juan BALLESTER OLMOS,OVNIS: EL FENÓMENO ATERRIZAJE - 1978

Books and Journals Received 340

Letters to the Editors
A Researcher Write341-342
Ball lightning342
Richard F. HAINESAbout UFO Drawings342-344
On Hypotheses344-345