The UFO Napster

WHAT: At this unique symposium -- Interstellar Travel and Unidentified Aerial Phenomena:Science Fiction or Science Fact?

-- eminent scientists and aviation experts will explore the potential for interstellar space travel and the evidence of unidentified aerial phenomena, sometimes referred to as UFOs. Hosted by The George Washington University and sponsored by SCI FI Channel, this symposium will provide attendees with a scientific understanding of how interstellar travel might be possible and highlight the need for a thorough scientific investigation of unidentified aerial
phenomena.

WHO:
Moderator – Ray Suarez, Senior Correspondent, The NewsHour with Jim Lehrer

Panelists:
Dr. Michio Kaku, professor of theoretical physics at the City College at the City University of New York
Dr. Richard Henry, professor of astrophysics at Johns Hopkins University
Dr. Peter Sturrock, emeritus professor of applied physics at Stanford
Dr. Jacques Vallee, astrophysicist and computer scientist, now in the private sector
Dr. Bernard Haisch, Director for the California Institute for Physics and Astrophysics
Ted Roe, Executive Director of the National Aviation Reporting Center for Anomalous Phenomena
John Callahan, former Division Chief of Accidents and Investigations for the FAA

Newly released UFO files - October 2008
The files contain a wide range of UFO-related documents covering the years 1986–1992. If you want to find out more about close encounters over Gatwick Airport, alien abductions, stray satellites - and what the UK Government thought of it all - then this is the place to be. The files are in PDF format.

http://ufos.nationalarchives.gov.uk/

CURIOUS PHENOMENON IN VENEZUELA

To the Editor of the Scientific American:

The following brief account of a recent strange meteorological occurrence may be of interest to your readers as an addition to the list of electrical eccentricities:

During the night of the 24th of October last, which was rainy and tempestuous, a family of nine persons, sleeping in a hut a few leagues from Maracaibo, were awakened by a loud humming noise and a vivid, dazzling light, which brilliantly illuminated the interior of the house.

The occupants completely terror stricken, and believing, as they relate, that the end of the world had come, threw themselves on their knees and commenced to pray, but their devotions were almost immediately interrupted by violent vomitings, and extensive swellings commenced to appear in the upper part of their bodies, this being particularly noticeable about the face and lips.

It is to be noted that the brilliant lights was not accompanied by a sensation of heat, although there was a smoky appearance and a peculiar smell.

The next morning, the swellings had subsided, leaving upon the face and body large black blotches. No special pain was felt until the ninth day, when the skin peeled off, and these blotches were transformed into virulent raw sores.

The hair of the head fell off upon the side which happened to be underneath when the phenomenon occurred, the same side of the body being , in all nine cases, the more seriously injured.

The remarkable part of the occurrence is that the house was uninjured, all doors and windows being closed at the time.

No trace of lightning could afterward by observed in any part of the building, and all the sufferers unite in saying that there was no detonation, but only the loud humming already mentioned.

Another curious attendant circumstance is that the trees around the house showed no signs of injury until the ninth day, when they suddenly withered, almost simultaneously with the development of the sores upon the bodies of the occupants of the house.

This is perhaps a mere coincidence, but it is remarkable that the same susceptibility to electrical effects, with the same lapse of time, should be observed in both animal and vegetable organisms.
I have visited the sufferers, who are now in one of the hospitals of this city; and although their appearance is truly horrible, yet it is hoped that in no case will the injuries prove fatal.

Warner Cowgill.
U. S. Consulate,
Maracaibo, Venezuela
November 17, 1886

Letter to Scientific American
December 18, 1886

The letter tickles me; the author finds the delayed effects on vegatation and humans to be of interest, yet there is no attempt to explain or postulate what the cause of the effects actually were..

From what is reported, it sounds like the area was exposed to a huge dose of radiation.

He did mention the "electrical effects". Note that radiation was first discovered nine years later, with Madam Curie being a bit after that.