Book ‘A.D. After Disclosure’ explores UFO mysteries, human race

By Steve Hammons

A new book by a historian and a Hollywood writer-producer about the complex issues of the UFO situation seems to be both radical and conservative, vast in scope and specific in detail.

This book provides a valuable, mind-expanding look at a significant scientific and cultural issue facing us today.

In an article posted online on Nov. 6, 2010, I wrote an overview, preview or preliminary review of this new book, A.D. After Disclosure: The People’s Guide to Life After Contact by Richard M. Dolan and Bryce Zabel.

Working from the press release about the soon-to-be-published book and an advance look at a pre-printing nearly-final PDF, I was able to get a good feel for Dolan’s and Zabel’s valuable information, perspectives and theories.

When I obtained a hard copy of A.D. After Disclosure, held it in my hands and began a detailed reading and study of it word for word, I was struck by how comprehensive the book really is.

It is not just about more disclosure on UFOs. It is also a solid look at the current state of American and global society and the human race on our planet. The book helps us examine where humanity has been, where we are now and where we are going.

Much of the book is actual fact. Other parts of it are logical conclusions or theories based on known fact and reasonable circumstantial evidence. And yet other elements go out on a limb about what the mysteries of the UFO situation might involve and how they could unfold.

MANY POSSIBLE SCENARIOS

When I finished reading the final page, the next phase was trying to absorb and organize in my own mind about the many points, scenarios and circumstances that the authors look into. That’s not easy, though it may be one of the most interesting aspects of reading the book.

Dolan and Zabel invite readers to think seriously about the possibilities.

How will we humans respond to the many possible situations and outcomes if more information becomes public about UFOs and visitors or “others?”

How will I, as an average human being, react? In fact, how I am reacting now to the apparent steadily emerging open source intelligence (OSINT) on this subject available to us at this point in time and in coming days?

Why do I say that, to me, A.D. After Disclosure seems both radical and conservative? This is because the authors look at a very unusual unknown, or really a complex set of many unknowns, from the viewpoint of our current everyday life and the present state of affairs on planet Earth.

Although Dolan and Zabel certainly expand readers’ thinking tremendously, the fact is that human consciousness, with or without more revelations about the UFO mystery, could change in ways that would be more fundamental and more significant than even these authors propose.

They don’t pull many punches. They speculate about the significant changes and adjustments that could occur on virtually all levels of society and in our lives once we reach a tipping point of learning more about these interesting, important, complex and sensitive situations.

Dolan and Zabel don’t sugarcoat it. In fact, many of their proposed scenarios give us reasons to be very careful and even understand the alleged need for decades-long information security on the UFO topic and other possible surprising discoveries.

While the authors obviously advocate for more public awareness about a variety of down-to-Earth subjects and various unusual phenomena, they are not naïve about possible difficult and problematic outcomes. Dolan and Zabel seem realistic. They look at some best-case scenarios and some worst-case outcomes as well as the middle ground.

In some of the more theoretical sections of their book, the authors are giving it their best educated guesses, based on reasonable and logical aspects of history and current events.

And, they freely admit that they may be wrong about some of the possible effects of more public knowledge about UFOs, various kinds of other intelligent beings and the way planet Earth is currently being run.

PREPAREDNESS AND READINESS

From our day-to-day routines to changes in our understanding about Nature and the universe (or even the “multiverse”), our viewpoints will develop further, possibly quite a lot. That is one of their main messages.

In many ways, A.D. After Disclosure reminds me of a well-known chapter in the 1992 firefighter training book, Fire Officer's Guide to Disaster Control by Charles Bahme and William Kramer. That manual mainly looks at the conventional situations that fire agencies and firefighting professionals can face.

But in the chapter "Disaster Control and UFOs," Bahme and Kramer also address unconventional situations that could require special training and awareness by public safety officials. These include public psychological reactions as well as the kinds of physical dangers firefighters often encounter such as hazardous materials (hazmat) precautions and mitigation.

In other words, it is about preparedness and readiness on many levels. Dolan and Zabel focus on this too.

Psychological and emotional factors, social and cultural issues, defense considerations, public safety elements, intelligence community participation and mass media’s handling of ongoing new knowledge and understanding are just a few of the areas explored in A.D. After Disclosure.

The book reminds us that we must be adaptable to change while retaining our fundamental identity as human beings.

Qualities like basic human decency, honor, strength, compassion and similar positive human traits will serve us well in a variety of possible future situations, whether they are unusual and unconventional or more conventional and normal.

In the closing words of their firefighting manual chapter on “Disaster Control and UFOs,” Bahme and Kramer remind firefighting professionals about the crucial importance of planning, adequate resources and good leadership.

Dolan and Zabel also advise us to consider these factors, and others, as we move inevitably toward change and new understanding of UFOs, several kinds of unusual phenomena and the state of the human race on Earth.

‘Dark Skies’ TV series about UFOs, ETs, secret agency, 1960s era now on DVD

By Steve Hammons

A special DVD collection of the 1996-1997 extraterrestrial and UFO-related NBC TV series “Dark Skies” is scheduled for release in the U.S. on Jan. 18, 2011.

“Dark Skies” follows a young congressional staff member, John Loengard, as he comes to Washington, D.C., during the period from 1961 to 1967.

When Loengard (played by Eric Close) is recruited into a secret government UFO agency, he and his girlfriend (Megan Ward) find themselves in the strange world of extraterrestrial invaders and government operatives trying to deal with the challenging situation.

The release of the series on DVD is sure to increase awareness and preparedness about various scenarios generally associated with the UFO phenomena.

People placing advance orders can receive the DVDs by Dec. 9, 2010, when ordering directly from the Shout Factory! home video company.

A “Dark Skies” DVD collection was also released in the UK in October 2010.

The series was created and written by Bryce Zabel and Brent Friedman. It aired on Saturday nights in 1996 and 1997, and included 18 one-hour episodes as well as a two-hour pilot. Zabel and Friedman have both had distinguished careers involving many successful TV projects.

The special U.S. DVD release includes three hours of audio commentaries with the creators and actors Close and Ward about the series pilot and closing episodes. A 90-minute documentary section gives viewers behind-the-scenes insight into the creative and TV business elements of the series.

TRUTH THROUGH FICTION?

The original NBC promos and Emmy Award-winning title sequence opening each episode featured the provocative statement, “They're here ... they're hostile ... and powerful people don't want you to know. History as we know it is a lie.”

The fast-paced action and suspense drama focused on the experiences of the characters played by actors Close and Ward as they learn more about the disturbing dangers facing the U.S. and the human race.

“Dark Skies” provides insight about possible or probable secret operations and organizations dealing with UFOs, ETs and other unconventional phenomena.

The series also gives viewers perspectives about the 1960s by incorporating real events, music and public personalities of that era.

Other leading actors play fascinating roles. J.T. Ward plays a Navy officer who is part of the secret “Majestic-12” agency dealing with the UFO and ET situation. Jeri Ryan is a covert agent in the same organization.

John M. Jackson also gives an impressive performance. Interestingly, Jackson portrayed the real-life commanding officer of the Roswell Army Air Force base in the revealing 1994 TV movie Roswell.

Many other actors contributed to the series, playing roles of people like President Harry Truman, Dr. J. Allen Hynek, Dr. Carl Sagan, FBI Director J. Edgar Hoover, Marilyn Monroe, Sen. Robert Kennedy, Navy Adm. Roscoe Hillenkotter, Dr. Timothy Leary and others.

Viewers revisit the 1960s yet see those years in a new light, looking deep behind the curtains – behind what we thought was reality.

THEN AND NOW

There are interesting parallels between “Dark Skies” and the current NBC series “The Event.” Both deal with secret goings-on regarding UFOs and unusual visitors or beings.

In both shows, a naïve young couple find themselves thrust into the middle of frightening and mind-bending conspiracies involving shadowy and dangerous agents and the UFO phenomena. Both series involve a U.S. president and his administration trying to deal with the situation, and deciding how much to tell the public. And, both tell us that beings appearing to be normal humans may not be.

“Dark Skies” creator and writer Zabel also recently co-authored a book with researcher Richard M. Dolan called A.D. After Disclosure: The People’s Guide to Life After Contact. This book certainly dovetails with “Dark Skies,” which was probably a TV series ahead of its time.

There are many video clips, promos and episode segments of “Dark Skies” on YouTube and other online platforms.

Zabel's and Dolan’s website AfterDisclosure.com also contains links to information on the series and the upcoming DVD release as well as related developments and research.

The special DVD collection will most likely be a valuable contribution to the ongoing learning curve and acclimation for Americans and people around the world as we prepare to deal with more information about UFOs, extraterrestrials, unusual intelligent beings and mysterious scientific discoveries.

New book ‘A.D. After Disclosure’ – adjusting to UFO truths and realities

By Steve Hammons

Can we handle the truth about UFOs? And what exactly are those truths? What are the impacts on societies, the international community, humanity and planet Earth? What adjustments will be needed and made?

These are just a few of the questions explored in the newly-published book A.D. After Disclosure: The People's Guide to Life After Contact by Richard M. Dolan and Bryce Zabel.

According to an Oct. 21 press release, the book is "speculative non-fiction" and "confronts all the disturbing challenges facing government, science, religion, media, culture, law, education, and politics once the denials end. How do we cope with the reality that we are not alone?"

The book examines various scenarios that could occur, and probably will, regarding increased transparency during and after events and processes related to the UFO phenomena.

Since it is widely suspected, or has already been determined, that some UFOs are advanced spacecraft from "elsewhere," who are they, what are they doing and what do they want? How have government officials been handling the situation and what will their position be going forward?

The press release states that the book, "combines meticulous fact-finding from historian/researcher Richard M. Dolan and journalist/screenwriter Bryce Zabel to confront seven decades of secrecy on the world’s most revolutionary subject."

The authors predict a radically changed worldview after official acknowledgment that at least some UFOs are intelligently-controlled physical craft from somewhere besides Earth.

TIPPING POINT

Our worldview may indeed change, but how will our day-to-day lives be affected? There will obviously be significant updates to our science textbooks for kids and college students. Our spiritual views could certainly also could be a factor.

And, as apparently has been the case for decades, our defense and intelligence communities will continue to fulfill an important role.

The two authors have robust backgrounds that make them uniquely qualified to tackle this complex and fascinating subject. Dolan is a respected historian, researcher and speaker who wrote the pioneering historical book series UFOs and the National Security State. Zabel is a former CNN journalist who became a Hollywood writer and producer, and also served as chairman of the TV Academy.

Zabel created five primetime network series including the UFO-related "Dark Skies" series that aired on NBC and won the 2008 Writers Guild screenwriting award. A "Dark Skies" DVD set was recently released in the UK and special-edition DVD set is due for release in the U.S. soon.

The authors have created a website, AfterDisclosure.com, filled with essays and insight from experts in the field and abundant information about related research.

Dolan's Keyhole Publishing released the hardcover book Oct. 25. It will also be available as an e-book. Zabel's Stellar Productions has movie and TV rights.

A.D. After Disclosure envisions a tipping point when the process of public disclosure makes the transition to open announcements and acknowledgments about at least some of what is known about UFOs.

And what would trigger such a tipping point? The authors explore several possible factors that are probably in play right now.

When more information does begin to surface publicly, the range of elements involved could be quite broad, the authors indicate. Various aspects of society, government, media and science would make significant adjustments – as will individuals, families, communities and societies.

PREPAREDNESS MANUAL

A.D. After Disclosure provides a manual of sorts to examine and consider what we might be wise to prepare for. Our readiness to deal with the new information and greater understanding about these sensitive and complex issues will be key in successful adjustment to more openness on this topic.

In fact, if the speculation is true about a decades-long process of acclimation to get us ready, our psychological and emotional readiness is an important consideration in more disclosure.

This new book will surely help the preparedness process and move the ball forward toward greater public knowledge about the situation.

The authors seem to feel that more disclosure is inevitable. They are probably correct. The elements they examine include how it might occur, what government officials might say – or not say – on the TV news and what the full scope of effects on humanity will be.

What new technologies could emerge? Those exotic devices and technological knowledge our defense and intelligence communities may have already acquired could be released into the pipeline to better benefit all of us.

Low-cost and nonpolluting energy sources may be available. Advances in medical science could heal the injured and cure the sick. We could experience greater prosperity, peace and happiness on many levels around the world.

But is there a downside? In part, this goes back to the question of who are these "others," as Dolan and Zabel call them, who apparently are engaged in some kind of activities involving Earth and the human race?

Is there more than one type? Which are friendly or hostile?

Like our human international challenges, this might be difficult to sort out and our defense and intelligence communities may still have a big job in front of them.

Another concern relates to other kinds of negative impacts on human culture. Would we humans think less of ourselves in the face of other intelligent beings who are far more advanced in several ways? Would some people kowtow and worship visiting beings in some kind of unhealthy cult-like way? What does the human race bring to the table?

And, what is the deep history of the situation? Did this just begin in the World War II era or has it been going on for centuries and in many cultures? For example, is there some particular link to Native American Indian history that we should investigate?

Readers of A.D. After Disclosure will encounter these questions and many more. Plenty of answers are also provided in the book ... at least tentative and reasonably probable and possible answers are presented.

Readers can consider the very-educated guesses and speculation from Dolan and Zabel and make up their own minds.

Human mind and UFOs: Dilemmas and dangers

By Steve Hammons

The psychological factors surrounding the topic of UFOs and visitors to Earth from elsewhere seem to involve complex circumstances.

One example may be the paradoxes of UFO sightings. Often, people see something in the sky that looks odd and may jump to the conclusion that it could be something very, very unusual such as a spacecraft of some kind.

In other cases, something truly anomalous is seen, often by multiple reliable witnesses, and the sighting is explained away as something natural or a misperception.

When people may spot a top-secret advanced military aircraft, they reportedly are allowed to believe it is an alien spaceship.

And when people see other kinds of very unusual craft that don’t appear to be human-built at all, they may be told that it is simply an advanced secret military plane.

The human mind does sometimes have a tendency to want to interpret and understand what the eyes see. This can result in inaccurate conclusions. At other times, the mind may not want to admit what it has seen or what is apparent, and prefers denial.

MIXED MESSAGES

Another interesting aspect in the area of UFO sightings is that active efforts to keep the situation secure and discreet over the decades may have had many influences on people.

Some individuals will conclude that every UFO sighting is by a troubled person who is having delusions. Other people might think that every UFO sighting is a real extraterrestrial or inter-dimensional spacecraft that is being covered-up.

The psychological operations (known as PSYOP) involved in UFOs and a range of other leading-edge scientific phenomena could be complex, mixed, harmful or helpful. Because they are usually secret, it is difficult to know.

And, who is conducting the deception, covert activities and mysterious goings-on involved with UFOs and other unconventional phenomena? There probably are multiple players involved.

Are we simply being persuaded or guided in certain directions for reasonable, legitimate and even positive purposes? Or, are we being deceived in ways that could be dangerous?

Again, answers to these questions seem elusive and complex.

Persuasion and the manipulating of opinions and viewpoints are common. Attorneys in the courtroom, advertisers of products for sale, politicians and others try to persuade us all the time. That is a normal and legitimate part of life, though sometimes problematic.

As we dig down into the reasons for, and methods of the persuasion, as well as the underlying truths, we may also evaluate the whole process more completely and see it in a certain light. The same is probably true of the many kinds of forward-leaning scientific research into subjects that seem to be strange, far-out and sometimes hard to understand.

UFOs are a good example, but not the only one.

Using careful analysis, avoiding jumping to conclusions and keeping open minds, we might be able to get a better grasp on these interesting kinds of situations.

But what if our minds themselves are directly affected in some way we don’t understand?

POSSIBLE SCENARIOS

Research into the human mind has made significant advances of many kinds. Again, there are paradoxical factors. In some cases, knowledge of medicine and psychology has been misused. In other situations, we have used this greater understanding to help individuals and humanity as a whole move forward in positive ways.

In the case of “non-lethal weapons” there has been the development of methods that can substitute for shooting bullets and dropping bombs. Some of these methods may work directly on the brain and body in some way.

These may include mind-altering drugs sprayed over a population, broadcasting certain wavelengths of various kinds of energies or even deploying foul-smelling odors.

There can also be methods that are much more sophisticated and subtle. Some of these may be highly technological and some may be more natural and non-technological, such as various kinds of extrasensory perception (ESP) and telepathy.

What actually is deep inside our minds at the deeper levels of consciousness anyway? Can we gain important insight through introspection, prayer, meditation, contemplation and tapping creativity?

Is it possible to gain useful solid information through ESP, like U.S. teams in Project STAR GATE did?

How might various kinds of psychological influences like these be playing a part regarding unconventional and anomalous phenomena such as UFOs and other leading-edge research areas?

And, if certain psychological methods are part of the overall scenario, who or what might be involved? Defense and intelligence agents? Angels? Alien beings? Are they good, bad or ugly? Is there a higher intelligent force of some kind involved?

As with other kinds of influencing or intervention, are methods and goals constructive and positive, or destructive and hostile? Should we resist and defend against them, or embrace and learn from them?

There seem to be no easy answers, but the questions are interesting and probably relevant.

By trying to keep our eyes open, our thinking clear, our feet on the ground, and looking both outwardly and inwardly with strength and compassion, we may be able to appropriately deal many kinds of contingencies.

Adequate preparedness of public now on UFOs, new discoveries?

By Steve Hammons

According to some researchers, one important reason for security about UFOs is the concern that information related to this topic could be upsetting or too disorienting for the general public.

Part of that thinking is reportedly the possibility that the situation could be more complex than simply one intelligent civilization traveling to Earth from their home planet to look around and make contact with humans.

The situation could involve new discoveries about multiple dimensions and inter-dimensional travel and phenomena. It could relate to time and space operating in ways that are surprising to us. In addition, there could be several kinds of beings and life forms involved in various kinds of anomalous or unusual phenomena.

Some researchers theorize that since the World War II era there may have been efforts to prepare and acclimate people about these kinds of new discoveries.

If so, then have movies, TV shows, books, articles and similar communication platforms adequately prepared us for what might be ahead?

PUBLIC SAFETY

A 1992 firefighter training manual, "Fire Officer's Guide to Disaster Control," addressed the issue of UFOs in a very interesting chapter titled Disaster Control and UFOs.

According to authors Charles "Chuck" Bahme and William Kramer, the two main hazards are powerful anomalous energy fields and psychological impacts, including problematic public anxiety and subsequent behavior that could create public health and safety problems. Some of these safety issues are addressed in the section Adverse Potential of UFOs.

People interested in the UFO field as well as general public safety would be well-advised to review this chapter. The authors are respected in their fields and have robust professional backgrounds and experiences.

We might expand on Bahme’s and Kramer’s UFO chapter to include other kinds of unusual phenomena that could also create concern or worry by the public.

What if some other kind of mass psychological phenomena took place? After all, recent discoveries in the field of human consciousness indicate that the deep human mind is still mysterious, as demonstrated by the research and operations of the U.S. defense and intelligence activity known as Project STAR GATE.

Things like extrasensory perception (ESP) and the connectedness of consciousness could be a bit surprising and disorienting if sudden tipping points or paradigm shifts occurred.

And, of course, things like human consciousness, multiple dimensions and UFOs could all be intertwined in some way that could be even more complex.

It might take a while for us to respond, adjust and get oriented while keeping our feet on the ground and our heads on our shoulders.

PLANNING AND LEADERSHIP

Some social scientists might conclude that the best approach to wide communication about some new discoveries would be a safe, slow, gradual process of education and orientation. Certain leading-edge scientific topics and forward-leaning research can be challenging to wrap our minds around.

Disclosure about various particular aspects of scientific and defense developments would seem to naturally be linked to public readiness and preparedness.

Books like "A.D., After Disclosure: The People's Guide to Life After Contact" by Richard Dolan and Bryce Zabel, due out this month, may be an example of solid psychological preparedness.

A smooth transition to new knowledge, understanding and even technologies seems to be a desirable outcome when it comes to public education about special scientific topics. In fact, in some important ways, certain new discoveries have not only important scientific and psychological aspects, but spiritual elements as well.

If we do face emerging unconventional situations, we might want to stay rooted in our basic human decency, our fundamental social and cultural touchstones, and even our sense of humor.

Authors Bahme and Kramer tell us in the conclusion of their chapter on Disaster Control and UFOs that planning, adequate resources and good leadership are all important for public safety professionals who handle many kinds of challenging situations.

This advice probably includes both the conventional and unconventional scenarios that could emerge.

‘Jellyfish’ witness description of UFO significant?

By Steve Hammons

Citizens who witnessed something that appeared to be unusual in the sky over the Chelsea area of New York City on Oct. 13, 2010, do not seem to agree on what they saw.

However, one witness was quoted as saying he thought the object or objects seemed to resemble “a jellyfish made of lights.”

This description may be significant.

Tim Powell, 28, was quoted in media reports as saying the objects were "the most bizarre thing I've ever seen.” Powell reported, “It looked like a jellyfish made of lights that just hovered in the sky like it wanted to be seen."

There have been witnesses in other cases in the UK, Texas and Ohio in 2008 and 2009 where witnesses described an appearance of an object that looked like a “jellyfish,” “octopus” or something with “tentacles.”

In past cases, some witnesses thought this seemed to look like something organic or living.

However, researcher Ray Stanford, a pioneer in studies of UFOs by use of optical and electronic instrument systems, said about previous similar UFO reports in the UK and Ohio in 2008 and 2009 that, "Although some UFO-generated physical phenomena may, through human mind's ever-interpreting 'lens,' look 'organic' (as though what was observed is something alive), that absolutely is not the case."

According to Stanford, this tentacle-like effect is "most often and readily visible when a craft is either slowing down or moving very slowly over an uneven surface."

Stanford had noted that a case of a UFO’s "tentacle" appearance reported over a wind turbine farm near Conisholme, England, on Jan. 4, 2009, may have been "constantly changing, torque-generating plasma beams" related to an exotic propulsion system.

He proposed that the "jellyfish" or "octopus" visual effect could actually be what is called a "magnetoplasmadynamic" or "magnetohydrodynamic (MHD)" field.

Stanford also prefers to use the terminology "anomalous aerial objects (AAOs)" instead of “unidentified flying objects (UFOs)."

In certain UFO sightings, Stanford stated witnesses often see a "pulsing" visual effect associated with some anomalous objects but the "jellyfish" appearance is not the object itself. He has even seen this effect himself and filmed it several times, he said.

What are these objects seen by multiple reliable witnesses? The recently-published book "UFOs: Generals, Pilots and Government Officials Go on the Record" by journalist Leslie Kean and the upcoming book "A.D., After Disclosure: The People's Guide to Life After Contact" by Richard Dolan and Bryce Zabel may shed light on these kinds of interesting situations.

SIMILAR WITNESS REPORTS

The Conisholme case in the UK occurred near a 213-foot-high wind turbine. The UFO was described by witnesses has having "tentacles of light," The Guardian newspaper reported.

Local resident John Harrison stated he saw a "massive ball of light with tentacles going right down to the ground" above the nearby wind turbine farm on Jan. 4, 2009. "It was huge. With the tentacles it looked just like an octopus," he was quoted as saying by the UK newspaper The Sun.

His description was similar to that of a local peace officer in the Stephenville, Texas, area who described a UFO he saw on police video in January 2008 as appearing like a "jellyfish."

In another case reported by researcher Linda Moulton Howe, a woman in central-eastern Ohio saw a large orange glowing object in the sky near her house in the early morning hours of Nov. 2, 2008. She said it looked like an "amoeba” and it changed shape as it moved at a low altitude above the trees.

Howe also reported that, similarly, in the early morning hours of Oct. 23, 2008, an Ohio truck driver, reportedly with a background in military aviation, said he saw a glowing yellow and white object that "seemed like a biological shape" and "organic" above the tree line in eastern Ohio near the Ohio River. He also said it resembled a "cocoon."

In another UK case, a resident in Wimbleton posted feedback on a local media website of The Guardian newspaper. The resident reported an object that he said looked like "a large bright pink jelly-fish looking object surrounded by a pink haze."

He wrote "Until this morning I was skeptical about UFO sightings. I looked out my flat window (in Wimbledon) this morning over towards Merton way and to my surprise notice a large bright pink jelly-fish looking object surrounded by a pink haze. it appeared to be hovering over or above the pylons in the distance."

SCIENCE OF UFO PROPULSION

According to researcher Stanford, "The 'jellyfish' phenomenon (contracting and expanding at a rate highly reminiscent of a jellyfish pulsating in water) was first filmed (8 mm daylight movie) by me at 12:55 in the noon hour of Sept. 18, 1956."

He remembers the incident. "Three of us there about 1/2 mile from 'Giant Rock' [in southern California's Mohave Desert] each saw the phenomenon surrounding the descending craft, until two jets from Edwards Air Force Base chased it away. And even as we watched, we compared it to each other as looking like a jellyfish pulsing in water."

However, Stanford and his associates believed they knew what the appearance meant. "Fortunately, we had enough background in science that we realized it was really a pulsating magnetoplasmadynamic (some use the term 'magnetohydrodynamic') field, visible due to light-emitting plasma (and/or, simply ions) contouring the object's magnetic field."

Stanford also noted that, "The pulses, per se, occurred mostly during the aborted descent. How so? I asked Dr. Jean-Pierre Petit about that during the 1976 CUFOS [Center for UFO Studies] conference in Chicago. I spoke there about my project's studies of UFOs using optical and electronic instruments at Dr. J. Allen Hynek's request."

"Petit was taking questions during his very important presentation titled 'Magnetohydrodynamic(MHD) Aerodynes' (See pages 201-233, Proceedings of the 1976 CUFOS Conference). Had UFOlogers at-large studied Petit's paper, they could be much farther along in understanding UFO propulsive physics," Stanford explained.

Stanford also said that Petit "explained that in steady flight, conditions are such that MHD flow is stabile and shock-free, but in, for example, descent, this must be constantly altered for several reasons. Resultant instabilities of the MHD flow create shock disturbances which must be constantly damped, so we see the pulsed interplay between increasing instabilities and decreasing instabilities in the MHD flow around the craft."

Stanford added, "It looks as though a craft is breathing, but that is only an interpretation the human mind makes in searching for analogs. In such case, it is a big misinterpretation. Likewise for the 'tentacles,' which are really only constantly-changing, torque-generating plasma beams."

"But, they can bend under the 'Lorentz force' and other forces which are most often and readily visible when a craft is either slowing down or moving very slowly over an uneven surface," he said.

Journalism evolving on leading-edge science and UFOs

By Steve Hammons

The journalism craft and profession continues to rise to new standards of quality and maturity in the coverage of leading-edge scientific developments, including the uniquely puzzling topic of unidentified flying objects (UFOs).

The most recent incident involving a UFO near a Chinese airport has been covered by ABC News, USA Today, TIME magazine and other credible mainstream media platforms.

A press conference in Washington, D.C., Sept. 27, 2010, involving the testimony of several former U.S. Air Force officers about UFOs near military bases led to mixed though generally responsible and professional news media coverage.

These two recent examples are just a few in the continuing story of journalism coverage of the possibility that Earth is being visited by some kind of unusual intelligent beings – or at least that there are some kind of odd objects in the skies being spotted by thousands of credible people, as well as being tracked on radar.

GRASSROOTS JOURNALISM

In modern times, we can probably say that a front page article of a small town newspaper in New Mexico on July 8, 1947, was a major step in journalistic coverage of this situation. On that summer day in the era following World War II, the Roswell Daily Record announced in a large-font headline “RAAF Captures Flying Saucer on Ranch in Roswell Region.”

The story quickly spread through news outlets around the country and around the world.

The commanding general of the Eighth Air Force subsequently informed reporters that the object was actually a weather balloon, and the base intelligence officer and commanding officer of the 509th Bomb Group at the Roswell Army Air Field (RAAF), the only atomic-bomb air base in the U.S., had made a mistake.

Many people now believe that the Roswell Daily Record had the story right the first time.

Some researchers of the UFO subject claim that national security concerns about this situation led to top secret projects and operations to determine if there was a threat, if advanced technologies could be acquired and if diplomatic relations could be established with possible extraterrestrial civilizations.

These projects and operations also may have required that security should be maintained about this sensitive and possibly dangerous scenario. As a result, various strategies were implemented to publicly deny or deflect reports of UFOs that appeared to be intelligently-controlled craft of some type.

Making sure journalists and the organizations they worked for stayed away from or ridiculed the UFO subject could have been part of these security protocols, according to some investigators. These security measures may have taken on even more importance as additional details about this situation emerged and came to the attention of defense and intelligence personnel tasked with understanding and dealing with it.

ENHANCING PROGRESS

Many journalists may have wanted to stay away from the subject for fear of ridicule. Some in the media prefer to ridicule other people and topics, rather than be the subject of mockery themselves.

This is natural and is human nature. And, it could be used to good effect in keeping news coverage of UFOs within parameters that were helpful for secrecy and security.

Today though, it is possible that these policies and historical trends are changing and evolving. Decades of discreet acclimation and psychological preparedness may make Americans and the international public less likely to panic in the face of the admission that we are being visited by unusual intelligent beings.

Now, journalists can pivot and cover the subject in sober and responsible ways that enhance public understanding about possibly very significant scientific and cultural developments in this area.

Just as old media platforms are changing and new ones are emerging, it also seems like the time to take a new look at the evolution of news coverage about forward-leaning subjects like UFOs and unconventional visitors to Earth as well as other fascinating "edge science" subjects.

Respecting national security requirements or even avoiding ridicule are reasonable, understandable and even appropriate in the minds of many people.

At the same time, robust and responsible journalism also has its place. If conducted appropriately, this kind of journalism can enhance social, cultural, scientific and national security progress.