Mysterious Universe

Kenneth Arnold’s famous sighting of a UFO back in the summer of 1947 may have forever left us with what the press later dubbed “flying saucers,” although the pilot, whose life was forever changed by the sighting, really saw what more closely resembled a series of boomerang-shaped craft flying in formation. With little doubt, the expression “flying saucer” must have seemed more appealing than “non-rotational flying boomerangs.”

But all semantics aside, the “flying boomerangs” are still reported from time to time even today, referred to variously as flying wedges, chevrons, single or swept-wing aircraft, or perhaps even more commonly as simply “triangles.” Their shapes may indeed provide clues about these mysterious aircraft, ranging from what their propulsion systems might be, to even attempts at reconciling their supposed origins. But then there are the stranger aspects associated with popular UFO reports that appear to defy any kind of explanation… seemingly leaving only one potential in their curious wake: that they must be of otherworldly origin.

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For years (decades, actually), rumors have circulated to the effect that government agencies – primarily those of Britain and the United States – have, since the 1980s, taken a deep and wholly secret interest in the Crop Circle phenomenon. And, there does seem to be evidence in support of this notion, as Colin Andrews’ 2009 book, Government Circles, makes very clear. There are, however, other, much earlier examples where it seems the British Government was actually quite disinterested in the phenomenon, even to the point of spending their hours, and tax-payers money, laughing about – and writing limericks in relation to – such affairs. Yes, really!

As many readers of Mysterious Universe will undoubtedly know, the British Government has, for a significant number of years now, been declassifying into the public domain its many and varied files on UFOs – chiefly under the terms of the Freedom of Information Act, and prior to that via the Thirty Year Ruling. One such file – covering more than three hundred pages and the period from 1963 to 1964 – includes a series of memoranda on the discovery of what might be termed an early Crop Circle.

As the file demonstrates, on 23 March 1964, T.E.T. Burbury, the Rector at Clifton Rectory, Penrith, Cumberland, wrote to the National Physical Laboratory at Teddington describing an encounter which had occurred some days previously. I quote from the rector’s letter: “Dear Sirs: Does an apparent column of blue light about 8-feet in diameter and about 15-feet high which disappears and leaves a mark of very slightly disturbed earth, the same diameter, mean anything to you? This occurred about 9.30 p.m. last Saturday night about 2 miles from here. It was seen by a person who is very short sighted who would have been unable to see anything, except the light, even if it had been present. Continue reading…

We have more black hooded entities from the UK, along with amorphous blob encounters, before we revisit a classic encounter with hairy little humanoids wearing some serious body armour. 

Also featured is the latest tech from Japan along with a gigantic naked hulk woman.

Bring your toothbrush, this is going to be an epic trip.

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They go by many names… but whether people may choose to call them ghosts, shadow people, entities, or denizens of the darkness, few who have encountered them would argue that there is any question to their existence… whatever “they” may be. Quite simply, barring any errors in identification that may transpire, they could only be considered “nonhumans” in our midst.

While the conventional model of what a “ghost” is supposed to be might lead some to categorize them more appropriately as “post-human entities” or something similar, the general idea that there are semi or altogether nonphysical “personages” in our midst has always been both intriguing and terrifying to us. And yet, reports of such high-strangeness encounters do seem to occur from time to time, with beings that seem to defy any kind of rational explanation.

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So-called Psychic-Questing books, like The Green Stone by Graham Phillips and Martin Keatman, and Andy Collins’ books on the subject, such as The Black Alchemist and The Second Coming, have long fascinated me. But, it’s Keatman and Phillips’ sequel to The Green Stone – namely, The Eye of Fire – that particularly intrigues me, chiefly because of the terrifying tale it tells of a certain Ranton Abbey…

Known more correctly as the Augustinian Priory – Ranton Abbey, situated in the English county of Staffordshire - was founded by Robert Fitz-Noel during the reign of Henry Plantagenet, with the construction having been completed by 1150. In the early 19th century, the property became part of the estate of the Ansons of Shugborough, latterly the Earls of Lichfield. Today, the abbey is, unfortunately, in ruins, having been ravaged and destroyed during the Second World War, while occupied by Dutch soldiers. And, with that said: Onto the story.

While much of The Eye of Fire is far beyond the scope of this article, the data I wish to impart relates to a July 1982 trip to the abbey that the team of investigators in the book embarked upon, as part of their quest to locate the Eye of Fire of the book’s title. Basically, the relevant parts of Philips and Keatman’s saga reveal how, in the 19th Century, one of the characters in the book, named Mary Heath, created a diabolical and monstrous “Guardian” at the abbey, whose role was to protect an ancient artifact, one that plays a vital role in the story.

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Ah, sweet wonderful nature, and its many mysteries… in the last couple of years, biologists and the curious-minded among us have been treated to a number of strange and incredible new realities amidst the animal kingdom. Take, for instance, how chimpanzees in certain remote parts of the world not only defy stereotypes by swimming and grieving over their recently deceased, but they also utilize tools in various capacities… all of which have caused humans to have to redefine the elements that constitute what we call “culture.”

Among the many mysteries of the animal kingdom that we’re made privy to on a frequent basis, we can no add another curiosity to the list in the realm of the cephalopod: specifically, we’re talking about squids that not only swim, but can travel like rockets through the air at five times the speed they can move through water!

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A new “back-squatch” photo takes center stage this week along with an astonishing collection of large unknown footprints.

We also weigh in on the recent debate between Richard Dolan and Dr. Alexander on the UFO Coverup question, before leaping off a brand new Spring Heeled Jack sighting into tales of dark phantoms from the UK.

Hit the jump for show notes, music links, and more.

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