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jadedANDcynical
Ran across this some time back and had forgotten about it until this thread popped back up in my subscribed list:
The main argument presented in this paper is that continuing study of Unidentified Aerial Phenomena (“UAP”) -- including “apparitions” of a religious or spiritual nature -- may offer an existence theorem for new models of physical reality. The current SETI paradigm and its “assumption of mediocrity” place restrictions on forms of non-human intelligence that may be researched in our environment. A similar bias exists in the ufologists’ often-stated hypothesis that UAP -- if real -- must represent space visitors.
Observing that both models are biased byanthropomorphism, the authors attempt to clarify the issues surrounding “high strangeness” observations by distinguishing 6 layers of information that can be derived from anomalous events, namely: (1) physical manifestations, (2) anti-physical effects, (3) psychological factors, (4) physiological factors, (5) psychic effects, and (6) cultural effects.
Incommensurability, Orthodoxy, and the Physics of High Strangeness: A 6-layer Model for Anomalous Phenomena
This paper goes in to some detail about the study of "high strangeness" and it's implications for our world view. It does a really good job of breaking down each of the 6 layers mentioned and goes on to explain how each of those layers represent a set of values that are affected by the incidences or occurrences. It also states fairly concisely one of the main problems we face to dealing with these happenings in this statement:
(italicized portion added by me for clarification)
This situation (the scientific study of "High Strangeness" being at an impasse) has as much to do with the incomplete state of our models of physical reality as it does with the complexity of the data.
"The incomplete models of physical reality" we have are some of the most limiting factors when faced with nontraditional understanding of events which defy what we have come to call reality. We need to push beyond what most think of as facts and understand that our limited knowledge is still infinitesimally small when compared to the actual evidence before our eyes when we gaze at the cosmos.
I know that everyone here recognizes and understands this as fact, but mainstream thought is so bogged down with blinders that the mental inertia is extremely difficult to counter.
This includes academia.
Now, as has been shown in this thread, there is a lot being studied and developed which would come under the full meaning of the term "high strangeness" and I think this paper fits well within the current discussion.
As it attempts to reconcile theory with observed properties of elementary particles and with discoveries at the frontiers of cosmology, modern physics suggests that mankind has not yet discovered all of the Universe’s facets. We must propose new theories and experiments in order to explore these undiscovered facets. This is why continuing study of reported anomalous events is important: It may provide us with an existence theorem for new models of physical reality.
The study of these events themselves can show us in which direction to take our R&D and may lead to further developments just from trying to figure out exactly how these things happen.
There is quite a bit about how divergent views of similar material (SETI vs UFOlogy, in particular) leads to a stagnation in the advancement of researching these pehnomena and it concludes the following:
In other words, we need to develop a multidisciplinary methodology that encompasses all 6 of the layers we have identified and can be applied to SETI as well as to UFO phenomena and close encounters with the entities associated with them.
Such a methodology would open the way to the rational testing of hypotheses in an important domain that has been sorely neglected by mainstream science for too long.
Advancing our studies of these events and what we learn from them by advancing how the events are studied. Evolution and adaptation with the field of research.
...Electromagnetic emission from an oscillating plasma could very well overwhelm a receiver. I would like to point out that a stable stand-alone plasma at atmospheric pressure has so far been impossible for mankind to generate. Ball lightning is thought to be such a plasma but it has never been adequately explained or duplicated by man.
The GUT
reply to post by CardDown
Good stuff and worthy of consideration, but rather dated:
...Electromagnetic emission from an oscillating plasma could very well overwhelm a receiver. I would like to point out that a stable stand-alone plasma at atmospheric pressure has so far been impossible for mankind to generate. Ball lightning is thought to be such a plasma but it has never been adequately explained or duplicated by man.
In July of 2012 Ping Yuan and his team from Northwest Normal University in Lanzhou, China had set up slitless spectrographs (a tool used to capture light from a very narrowly defined region) on the Qinghai Plateau of northwest China. It was supposed to be a run of the mill investigation on lightning that frequents the region.
The team got lucky one night when their recording devices captured a spontaneous occurrence of ball lightning 900 meters away. It was a clear case of being at the right place at the right time, with the right type of spectrograph, filming in the specifically required frequency of the light spectrum to view the event. The team got very, very lucky.
The ball lightning lasted for approximately 1 second. During that second the researchers were able to learn that although the ball was much smaller, its ‘glow’ emitted light 5 meters across. It also moved horizontally across the ground for 10 meters followed by a 3 meter ascension. Furthermore, it changed from a white to reddish color. Yuan stated that the ball lightning was generated by a cloud-to-ground lightning strike.
originally posted by: stormbringer1701
The last time i was abducted by aliens i decided to get even with them by stealing all of their galley appliances. I haven't seen them since. Got a nice Nu-wave oven thing too. actually i took everything that wasn't bolted down and a case of alien booze. I was pretty sure they would not be filing a report.
originally posted by: The GUT
The grand Genius of Electricity, Nikola Tesla, apparently claimed to have achieved extraterrestrial communication through EM devices:
originally posted by: The GUT
Electromagnetic (EM) effects have long been associated with both UFOs and various "paranormal" phenomena for that matter..
There are thousands of recorded examples of NDE’s that offer testimony to the possibility of life after death, but what about life after near-death?
In addition to these notable after effects, the research of P.M.H. Atwater revealed another, more bizarre pattern, indicating that many people undergo rather remarkable changes to their body’s electromagnetic field. Called ‘electro-sensitivity’ this can bring on puzzling, frightening, and even dangerous situations for some of the most sensitive of NDE survivors.
“Since beginning my research of near-death states in 1978, I have consistently noticed that a large majority of experiencers (both as part of my study and in general conversation with them) reported becoming more sensitive to electrical and magnetic fields – disturbances, equipment, devices, wrist watches – after their episode.” – P.M.H. Atwater
This strange and lasting physiological change is seen by the majority of those who experience NDE’s. Most commonly, those who experience electro-sensitivity after a NDE report ‘interference’ with potentially anything electronic in the external environment. Some examples are:
Lights flickering on and off when entering room, and especially so when there is a high intensity situation occurring
Computers and other electronics malfunctioning when near
Light bulbs exploding
Disruptions in recording equipment leading to unusual or distorted photos and videos
Wrist watch batteries die quickly, or watches stop for no reason at all
Feeling ‘drained’ when near anything electronic
Receiving television or radio channels that shouldn’t be picked up in that location
Feeling more ‘connected’ to electronics and being able to use them better than before the NDE
Extreme sensitivity to earth changes such as thunder storms, earthquakes, lightening, and tornados
originally posted by: The GUT
Btw, did you catch any of the stuff recently about consciousness and microtubules?!