European Journal of UFO and Abduction Studies

Abstracts from Volume 1(2).

Data Analysis of Anomalous Luminous Phenomena in Hessdalen

Massimo Teodorani & Erling Strand

In the beginning of 1984 a group of Norwegian researchers, supported by external physical scientists, carried out investigations on a luminous phenomenon which was occurring with strong recurrence in the area of Hessdalen in Norway. Such a phenomenon, which was monitored without interruption for 36 days, also by employing several types of instruments, allowed researchers to obtain a precious set of data. At the present time a new station, which was installed in 1998 in the Hessdalen area and which is supplied with an automatic video camera, is currently furnishing data in real time. The present paper is devoted to the presentation and discussion of the data analysis and interpretation which have been attempted in order to try to understand the nature of such a phenomenon. The following main results are presented: a) the luminous phenomenon, which appears mostly during the night time and during the winter season, shows a marked radar signature and occurs approximately in concomitance with some peculiar magnetic disturbances and sometimes with unexplained radio emission, b) magnetometric data, radar data and some components of radiometric data show some slight correlation with daily solar activity. The hypothesis regarding the formation of solar-driven plasmoids which acquire self-governing EM and magnetic fields, is ventured and discussed. The alternative possibility that solar activity is interfering with a still unknown EM behaviour due to luminous phenomenon is further discussed.

European Journal of UFO and Abduction Studies, Vol 1(2), p.64-82

The Manises UFO File

Juan Antonio Fernandez Peris

This article is a summary of a 200-page research report authored by agricultural engineer Mr. Juan Antonio Fernandez Peris, from Valencia, Spain. The event here exposed occurred on November 11, 1979. Just a few hours later, the author was already engaged in interviewing involved witnesses. During all these years, Mr. Fernandez Peris has been performing an in-depth study of all circumstances surrounding the experience, with ups and downs based on the availability of information. Most clues appeared when in 1994 the case file was declassified by the Spanish Air Force. It allowed the author to formulate a falsifiable (i.e. scientific) theory to explain the various stages of this complex event, the best-known UFO cases in the Spanish UFO history. In 1998, the author was granted the Ricardo Caruncho Prize, established annually by the Spanish Anomaly Foundation (www.anomalia.org) to reward the best UFO investigation of the year. The entire research report will be published in book form by the Anomaly Foundation early in the year 2000 under the title El Expediente Manises (The Manises File). For further details write to Apartado 5041, 39080 Santander, Spain, or contact our web site. (This abstract written by Vicente Juan Ballester Olmos, Director of Research for Fundacion Anomalia).

European Journal of UFO and Abduction Studies, Vol 1(2), p.83-91

An Educational Programme for Ufology in the United Kingdom: The Development of an Advanced Level Qualification in Ufology

Craig A. Roberts

Ufology, as a discipline, has been around for many years but there has been no regulated qualification for people to term themselves 'ufologists' upon completing. This paper explores the development of such a qualification in the United Kingdom. The Advanced Level course in ufology, offered by Totton College, is split into six units: Historical Perspectives on UFOs, Theoretical Perspectives on UFOs, Research Methods in Ufology, Alien Abduction, The Media and Ufology and Primary Research in Ufology. The course takes a minimum of two years and allows the student to gain six certificates and have a thorough knowledge of the subject area. Currently, 162 students have studies for one or more units from a wide geography. The course receives no formal funding so each unit has to be cost covering via student payment. This jeopardises the future of the course but we hope to continue to offer the course. It would be beneficial for other European nations to take up this idea and offer formal educational qualifications in Ufology.

European Journal of UFO and Abduction Studies, Vol 1(2), p.104-109.

Alien Abduction, Sleep Paralysis and the Temporal Lobe

Susan Blackmore & Marcus Cox

Twelve 'alien abductees' were given the Personal Philosophy Inventory (including a measure of temporal lobe lability) and a questionnaire about sleep experiences. They were compared with twelve matched controls and a student control group (n=51). No differences in temporal lobe lability were found between the groups but the abductees more often reported sleep paralysis than the controls.

European Journal of UFO and Abduction Studies, Vol 1(2), p.113-118.

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