Most everyone even remotely familiar with the UFO phenomenon has marveled at crop circles, intriguing formations that are sometimes both complex and stunning. Crop circles long since became conceptually joined with UFOs, for better or for worse, at least in the court of popular opinion. Should they be joined?
Is there, in fact, reasonable evidence to conclude that unidentified aerial phenomena are related to crop circles? Are these curious formations the preferred method of communication of a civilization so alien to our own that we struggle to comprehend even their most basic means of reasoning, or do the origins of crop circles lie somewhere in explanations that are much less sensational, interesting as those explanations may be? In a series of upcoming posts I will explore such questions, presenting information for consideration while encouraging readers to form their own opinions.
William C. Levengood
The information to be presented was obtained through interacting with select researchers over the years, reviewing their work and presenting them with specific questions. Such was the case when William C. Levengood, a retired Michigan biophysicist who remains quite active in ufology, agreed to participate in telephone interviews conducted during July of 2010.
Mr. Levengood first became interested in crop circles over 20 years ago, leading to personally examining select formations and their altered plant structures. He has now analyzed over 300 formations in his lab. Further information about Mr. Levengood, his work and how it correlates with the work of other researchers will be presented.
Definitions
We should begin by defining a crop circle. The term actually earned a spot in the Merriam-Webster Dictionary, largely due to the work of Colin Andrews, an electrical engineer from the United Kingdom who is considered a leading authority on the subject [1]. Merriam-Webster defines a crop circle as a geometric and especially a circular pattern of flattened stalks in a field of grain now usually attributed to natural phenomena or to the work of hoaxers trying to create the impression of a visit by extraterrestrial beings [2].
While the Merriam-Webster definition might be reasonably accurate for a certain percentage of crop circles, maybe even a large percentage, select researchers might very well label the definition incomplete. Organizations such as the Independent Crop Circles Researchers' Association (ICCRA), of which Mr. Levengood is a consultant and independent ufologist Lindy Tucker, who aspects of her work will be considered, is a member [3], are a bit more particular in defining authentic crop circles.
Authentic crop circles should contain anomalous circumstances such as artifacts of intense energy, probably microwave. Plant nodes are elongated and plants are altered at a cellular level, sometimes rather dramatically [4]. Such circumstances must be identified to separate authentic crop circles from what have become increasingly elaborate and competent hoaxes.
Hoaxes
Popular opinion has long held that hoaxers could not create complex geometric formations in short periods of time that would be necessary to avoid getting caught in the act. This opinion is quite incorrect, however, and underestimates the ingenuity of determined hoaxers. Mr. Andrews reports that during 1999 and 2000, he exposed some 80 percent of crop circles reported in England as hoaxes [5]. Furthermore, National Geographic demonstrated without question that certain individuals indeed take pride in designing elaborate crop circle formations and very much have the capabilities to create such formations during the cloak of a single night [6]. During the filming of the documentary, The Truth Behind Crop Circles, National Geographic commissioned a team to create a complex crop circle, the physical construction of which was limited to a few pre-dawn hours, and the successfully completed product may be viewed at:
http://channel.nationalgeographic.com/series/mysterious-science-episodes/4549/Overview#tab-Photos/14
Implications
Skillfully created hoaxes aside, what of the crop circles that contain anomalies qualifying them as authentic? What has truly been established about such formations? What are the longer term effects? Who or what might be creating authentic crop circles, and how and why? We shall indeed explore the trails where such questions lead us, following on the heels of crop circle research pioneers William C. Levengood, Colin Andrews, Lindy Tucker, Nancy Talbott and Dr. Jacques Vallee, who contributed to forging the trails.
We shall explore what Mr. Levengood, among others, learned about correlations between select crop circles, accelerated plant growth and how it correlates with certain other crop circles. As we shall see, select crop circles share very curious trace evidence with select reports of alleged alien abduction.
I will present facts. I encourage you to decide for yourself what you suspect the facts indicate.
References:
[1] Colin Andrews: Colin Andrews
[2] Merriam-Webster: Crop Circle
[3] Independent Crop Circles Researchers' Association: ICCRA Researchers' Profiles
[4] BLT Research Team, Inc.: Plant Abnormalities
[5] Colin Andrews: Lindy Tucker Says the Crop Circle Hoaxers Should Be Forced Out
[6] National Geographic: The Truth Behind Crop Circles
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