|
| | Research and Review Articles |
| Michael SCHROTER-KUNHARDT | A Review of Near Death Experiences | 219-239 |
| | Abstract: Near death experiences (NDEs) have been reported throughout
time in essentially all cultures. The contents of modem NDEs is independent
of gender, age, and profession. The frequency of occurrence is estimated to lie
between 10 and 50 percent of all near-death situations. This frequency could
be higher still, perhaps even 100 percent, were it not for the dreamlike and dissociative character of the experience and the amnesia-prone participation of
the temporal lobe causing a clear tendency to forget the NDE. A number of
similar elements are common to NDEs, such as an out-of-body experience
(OBE) in which the physical body and its surroundings are observed from
various external vantage points, often from above. Numerous cases exist in
which the reality of the OBE-observation can be independently 'verified, by
external conditions, situations, people, objects, etc. Even previously non-religious ND experiencers subsequently show a markedly decreased fear of
death and a corresponding increase in belief in life after death. Certain elements of NDE-like experiences can be induced by, for example, electrical
stimulation of the right temporal lobe or the use of hallucinogenic substances.
It is possible that hallucinogenic transmitters (and endorphins) of the brain itself play a role in the NDE. Nevertheless, there are NDE-elements, such as
the frequently reported life-review and certainly the acquisition of external,
verifiable information concerning the physical surroundings during the experience, that cannot be explained by physiological causes. Wish-fulfillment,
death-denial or other defense mechanisms of the brain are also not adequate
explanations. The large body of NDE data now accumulated point to genuine
evidence for a non-physical reality and paranormal capacities of the human
being. |
| Bruce MACCABEE | Analysis and Discussion of the May 18, 1992 UFO Sighting in Gulf Breeze, Florida | 241-257 |
| | Abstract: A professional TV crew traveled to Gulf Breeze, Florida on two
occasions in the spring of 1992 at a time when sightings were occurring on a
weekly basis. On each occasion anomalous lights were observed and videotaped passing through the Gulf Breeze skies. This paper reports briefly on the
first sighting and concentrates on the analysis of the second sighting when the
TV crew used a special "high power" camera. During the second sighting the
lights were observed from two locations allowing for triangulation and a subsequent estimate of the spacing between them (about 10 ft). They were moving in an early rectilinear path at a speed exceeding 20 mph before they faded
out. A discussion of the hoax hypothesis involving pyrotechnic devices and
incandescent light sources is presented. It is shown that the sightings, if not of
"real" UFOs, constitute a hoax of considerable ingenuity, expense and persistence. This sighting was just one of about 170 which have occurred in the Gulf
Breeze area during 1990-1992. |
| York H. DOBYNS | Selection Versus Influence in Remote REG Anomalies | 259-269 |
| | Abstract: A large body of remote human-machine interaction data has been
collected in a protocol structurally similar to that used for experiments in remote perception, with somewhat comparable anomalous results. This suggests that the effects seen in the former could be attributable to a selection or
sorting process on a reservoir of unperturbed data, rather than to any remote
influence on the machine behavior per se. Fortunately, the statistical consequences of these two modalities are clearly distinguishable within the available empirical data. When properly evaluated by Bayesian hypothesis-comparison methods, the experimental results overwhelmingly favor the direct
influence hypothesis over any selection mechanism. |
| J. W. NIENHUYS | Dutch Investigations of the Gauquelin Mars Effect | 271-281 |
| | Abstract: A team of Dutch skeptics have investigated a new explanation for
the Mars effect with sports champions of Michel Gauquelin. They conjectured that outstanding sports people might have diurnal and seasonal birth
rhythms different from average people and that moreover the short time base
of Gauquelin's observations might further enhance these effects. Essentially
their findings were negative. Simulations were either not possible because of
lack of data or they showed that along these lines an explanation is only possible if very implausible additional assumptions are made. However, it is argued that the Gauquelin data suffer from a bias, namely some artifact of the
exploratory phase. The eminence effect of Ertel is shown to be too weak to
draw firm conclusions about its existence. It seems plausible that the
Gauquelins did not realize that said artifact had to be tightly controlled for |
|
| Suitbert ERTEL | Comments on Dutch Investigations of the Gauquelin Mars Effect | 283-292 |
| | Abstract: -The first of two Dutch skeptics' attempts at disproving the Mars
effect failed (Nienhuys 1993a). Contrary to the Nienhuys view, however, the
second pass of the Dutch critics at the Gauquelin claim- an attempt at undermining the validity of his data base- is shown to fail as well. The critics
drew apparent support from my previous unearthing of a Gauquelin biasGauquelin had exempted cases from publication (Ertel, 1988). Yet they neglected the fact that any such bias had been neutralized as a result of my pooling of published and unpublished data. Specifically, a significant eminence
trend was demonstrated in the unmanufactured total sample in my 1988 report. In addition, Dutch endeavours at rendering the eminence relationship
insignificant either failed (even a less sensitive scale with 12 instead of 36
sector division yielded significance) or were illegitimate (splitting up of the
entire sample for that purpose violates methodological logic). Thus, the present (fourth) attempt in the history of resistance against the Gauquelin challenge by organized skeptics has added two misses to their record. |
|
| | Invited Essay |
| William A. TILLER | What Are Subtle Energies? | 293-304 |
| | Abstract: A brief discussion is given of a set of anomalous experimental
phenomena that are inexplicable based only on the four accepted forces operating in the physical universe. Possible explanations require defining the existence of subtle energies. Using a quantum mechanical description, the seat
of subtle energy functioning is traced to the vacuum state with magnetic vector potential assuming the role of bridge between the subtle energies and
physical energies. A brief discussion is given of how we might reliably detect
subtle energies and a zeroth order model of the subtle domains as substructure for the vacuum state is given. |
|
| | Columns |
| Topher COOPER | Anomalous Propagation | 305-310 |
| Michael EPSTEIN | The Skeptical Perspective | 311-315 |
| j. DOMMANGET | Guest Column: The Comite PARA-European Skeptics Committee | 317-321 |
|
| | Letters to the Editor |
| | Ukraine Research Institute on Anomalous Phenomena | 323-325 |
| | Comments on Guide to UFO Research | 325-326 |
| | Related:
Journal of Scientific Exploration Volume 7 Number 1 Spring/1993 - A Guide to UFO Research [Swords, Michael D.]
| |
|
| | Book Reviews |
| Ian STEVENSON | Beyond Natural Selection by Robert Wesson | 327-328 |
| Peter A. STURROCK | First Review of Forbidden Science | 328-330 |
| | Review: Jacques VALLÉE,FORBIDDEN SCIENCE - 1992 | |
| Keith THOMPSON | Second Review of Forbidden Science | 330-333 |
| | Review: Jacques VALLÉE,FORBIDDEN SCIENCE - 1992 | |
| Hilary EVANS | Roads to Center Place: A Cultural Atlas of Chaco Canyon and the Anasazi by Kathryn Gabriel | 333-335 |
|
| | SSE News Items |
| | Preliminary Announcement of 1994 SSE Meetings | 336 |
| | Abstracts of 1993 SSE Meeting | 336 |
