Science
Over
the Edge:
Science
Over
the Edge:
July 1998
In the News:
An international panel of
scientists reviewing UFO phenomena has recommended that physical evidence
from some sightings get serious scientific examination. The nine-member
group stopped well short of saying they believed the Earth was
being visited by extraterrestrials, but were impressed by a photograph from
Vancouver Island, British Columbia, in 1981, and a report from an airliner
crew in 1994 near Paris. The crew saw a gigantic disk with slightly fuzzy
edges. Swiss radar also tracked the object for 50 seconds.
Panel director Peter Sturrock said, "The only way to get real answers is to get scientists involved in the problem."
Want to learn about UFO history? Click here!
Two fossils found in China
are the strongest evidence yet that apparently birds evolved from dinosaurs.
Feather impressions can clearly be seen in the rock, yet otherwise the
animals resemble a theropod dinosaur. The creatures, named Caudipteryx
zoui and Protoarchaeopteryx robusta, couldn't fly and it is unclear
exactly
how the feathers were used.
Not all scientists think the fossils are dinosaurs. Some experts maintain they are, instead, primitive birds.
Click here for more dinosaur information!
Sony Corporation, the people
who brought us the Walkman, have issued a document that will be a first
step in building and marketing "Entertainment Robots" to the public. Sony
researchers
demonstrated prototypes that chased after a ball and played with it. It
is hoped the robots will have sophisticated enough behavior to give the illusion
to people they are playing with a kitten or puppy. The company hopes these
"entertainment" robots will be the next big fad in personal entertainment.
Under the Freedom of Information
Act the FBI has opened some of its real "X Files" to the public on its web
site at
www.fbi.gov/foipa/foipa.htm.
The files include reports of UFOs and
speculation on what happened to Amelia Earhart. Some 16,000 pages are accessible
from some 37 investigations. Eventually some 1.3 million pages will be available
on-line.
In History:
One of the earliest known
reports of a monster in Lake Champlain was published in a newspaper on July
9th, 1873. A railroad crew laying track on the shore near Dresden, New York,
"saw a head of an enormous serpent sticking out of the water and approaching
them from the opposite shore." The crew scattered in fear. The alleged
monster, now affectionately referred to as "Champ," turned toward open water
and disappeared.
Check out our page on lake monsters of North America.
If you have a telescope
this is a great month to try and sight the planet Saturn's rings. They are
tipped 16 degrees from edge-on, giving the best view since 1992. Even if
you don't have a telescope you can still see the planet Saturn toward the
South-East an hour or so before dawn.
Observed:
On June 8th a mysterious
fireball crossed the sky over Northern Argentina. Several witnesses observed
the ball of fire over Colonia Julio Martin. Some of those that saw it thought
it was a UFO. Others thought it might be a meteorite.
Could it have been a bit of space junk? Click here to find out!
Discovery Channel is airing the series Science
of the Impossible. Episodes are Facing Doomsday, July 12th at
9PM & 1AM, July 19th at 1PM ET/PT. Future Body (bionic men) July
12th at 10PM & 2AM, July 19th 2PM ET/PT. Aliens-Where Are They?
July 13th & July 19th at 3PM ET/PT. Can We Reach the Stars? July
14 & July 19th at 4PM ET/PT. Invisable Forces July 15th &
July 19th at 5PM ET/PT.
Nova takes a look at the
Mysterious Mummies of China on July 7th at 8PM ET on PBS.
The Titanic's lost sister
ship, Britannic is the subject of a Nova on July 14th at 8PM ET on
PBS. The Britannic was sunk during WWI as the result of a bomb or torpedo.
TCL's Science Frontiers
and Real History series will be airing a special set of "End of
the World" episodes from 1PM to 5PM July 5th. Titles include: Doomsday
Asteroid, Killer Virus and Nuclear Holocaust. Not for the
easily depressed.
Science over the Edge Archives
Copyright Lee Krystek 1998. All Rights Reserved.