One of the biggest issues in academia is institutionalized skepticism. In other words, the outright dismissal of anything bucking statistics and materialism. Bringing us to Barry Lam's chat with Anita Woodley, learning what it's like to grow up with a gift you don't want and her experiences with the Rhine Research Center. Hats off to Jeff Emtman introducing us to Barry and his great podcast. How does it measure up to the gold standard of paranormal podcasts? Let's just say it's a two-way tie after hearing Ray Stanford chew the fat with Gene Steinberg and Chris O'Brien on the good, bad, and the ugly in UFOlogy. (CS)

One of the biggest stories this week centered on the discovery of an Indian girl raised by monkeys from birth. What we do know is she's a girl and there were monkeys in the vicinity, but that's about it. The icing on Michael Safi's cake? Her story illustrates the sad state of affairs for disabled girls in India. If you've been living under a rock, or a monkey, Matt Cook shares his coverage from when he believed her to be a Real Wild Child. (CS)

Probably not as Brooks Garner looks at a meteorological phenomenon which is the bane of broadcasters. It's an interesting factoid to keep in your back pocket should you be tapped for a UFO investigation. Those who do chase saucers know how far the rabbit hole goes. Look at Paul Seaburn who says it's about 30 feet deep based on Michele Thompson's discovery of a Mysterious Arizona Hole Mysteriously Filled By The Government. That story jogged David Halperin's memory of Michael Hallowich digging holes to hoax a saucer landing. But the way people conflate events, even years apart and from Glassboro To Roswell, doesn't do anyone any favors. Especially Captain James McAndrew's attempt to shut down serious inquiry into Roswell. And if you've been following The Anomalist, we've been sharing a lone voice crying in the wilderness decrying the demise of UFOlogy. It gets tedious, depressing, and probably saves CIA/DHS/NSA/FBI's disinfonauts a whole lot of trouble in diverting attention from the real deal. Plenty remain earnest in their interest with saucers, and Scott Browne shares Dr. Harley Rutledge's UFO Blueprint to follow in collecting evidence and anecdotes related to this enduring phenomenon. (CS)

When we saw Brett Tingley's headline we got all excited. "We know bigfoot's whereabouts and that cool million will go directly to our buddy Loren Coleman!" Then we saw the fine print, and boy howdy there's one evil devil in the details. Makes me think of Jaime Maussan's weaselling with his $10,000 for conclusively identifying the "Roswell Mummy". As if our heart couldn't sink any further, the name Tom Biscardi made it happen. For a diversion, The Anomalist's staff decided to (vicariously) ride shotgun with Nick Redfern on Mothman-Themed Road Trip. Let's just say Point Pleasant, WV has changed since the sixties and it's for the spookier. (CS)

Folks reckon science is just Neil Tyson saying, "No" and trusting him because he smiles a lot and makes appearances on Stephen Colbert. Or Bill Nye wearing a bowtie and being rude to his fanbase because, well, science! To be honest, they're lightweights when it comes to the systematic analysis of the physical and natural world through observation and experiment. If they were real scientists, and Nye isn't (he's an engineer), they'd be in their lab pushing the envelope instead of toeing the same old tired, static paradigm. Which is why our pal Greg Taylor wants you to listen to Brian Josephson talk about the possibility of ESP. He's no Deepak Chopra nor Steven Greer, but a Nobel prizewinner unafraid of new ideas at the bleeding edge of human knowledge. Heed Greg Taylor's suggestion and listen to Closer To The Truth, as there are many other episodes featuring respected scientists open to maverick ideas. It's like Skeptiko on steroids and human growth hormone! (CS)

Speaking of Nobel prizewinners, JPat Brown shares excerpts from a declassified study where remote viewers had to describe a photo concealed in an opaque envelope. There is a source of irritation for both sides--Mr. Brown's suggestion of the remote-viewers being coached and the CIA not keeping records regarding the "prompting in verbalization". Had Carlos Alvarado led those studies, the reports would've been more detailed like his analysis of Eusapia Palladino's Séances With Julian Ochorowicz In Warsaw. Either Eusapia was a master show woman, or she really had wild talents guaranteed to confound Ochorowicz. Speaking of Skeptiko, Alex Tsakiris pays a visit to Kevin Randle's podcast to explain why Science Is Wrong... About Almost Everything. (UK). As the saying goes, "If it's real, it can take the pressure" and Alex handily perseveres when Randle puts him in the hot seat. (CS)

Our little astronomy section takes a hint from the adage, "Something old, something new, something borrowed, something blue". We begin with anomalous accounts of astronomical events over medieval Japan once dismissed as fiction. When archaeoastronomers started poking around, they discovered something awesome happened in the 11th century. Next, something new appeared in our skies last February, writes David Coward, as a Massive Explosion From An Unknown Source Billions Of Light Years Away Baffles Astronomers. The usual suspects aren't plausible in this case, leaving the door open to stranger hypotheses. Then Renay Oshop borrows from one of the oldest forms of divination to examine the effect of stars upon puny earthlings. Alex Tsakiris invites her to Skeptiko to talk about how she uses Big Data, AI, And Statistics To Challenge What Science Thinks About Astrology. We're hoping Mike Brown's feeling a little blue as citizen scientists Find Four Candidates for Mysterious ‘Planet 9’ , rather than through his deep sky survey with the 8-meter Subaru telescope. Cheers to Mysterious Universe's Brett Tingley for sharing the good news! (CS)

It is a tragedy when a family member goes missing, so the Borges family in Brazil could use some good thoughts directed their way. Their son Bruno vanished in late March of this year after barricading himself in his room for a month while he obsessed about aliens and filled 14 journals with strange, cryptic script. He believed his "work" would one day help humanity but kept details of his project secret, even from family. Theories abound on what actually happened to Bruno, but none of them have led to his location. Halfway across the world in Japan, Haunted Tokyo reporter Ryo Mysteriously Loses Wedding Ring, Learns From Psychic It Saved His Life. Here are the facts as we know them: Ryo lost his wedding ring. A "psychic" informed him the ring sacrificed itself to save him. Same psychic cannot give any details and Ryo walks away satisfied. Does anyone else think young Ryo might be a bit too gullible to be reporting on paranormal subjects? Or maybe we're just jaded? (CM)

Here's something not everyone knows about Kevin Randle: He can be funny. Delving into the ever morphing subject of alien appearance, Kevin gives a quick synopsis of facial features, specifically ET's nose. Seems it's been built up and trimmed down enough times that one could be forgiven for suspecting aliens of having some sort of plastic surgery addiction. It certainly would be interesting to check for ourselves, but we'd probably need some Dead Aliens Stored In Underground Bunkers. Nick Redfern shares with us a story relayed to him by a retired air force employee who was asked to bear witness to a crate filled with what appeared to be alien bodies in varying states of decomposition deep in the bowels of Wright Patterson Air Force Base. Were the bodies genuine aliens or fakes? You'll have to read Nick's report to find out. (CM)

Riverbend County, consisting of Madison, Calhoun and Jersey, Illinois, is a must-see destination for Squatch Watchers, with hairy bipedal sightings only outnumbered by those in Washington, California and Florida. The suggestion here is the population density just makes it likely that more people are out and about, resulting in more witness accounts. Whatever the reason, the reports continue to come in of hairy creatures darting across roads in only a few strides, hanging out in neighborhood backyards to avoid noisy tourists, or just getting in the way of recreational activities. And while there is no conclusive evidence proving Sasquatch is real, You Can’t Tell Me That Bigfoot Doesn’t Exist. The Wittenberg Torch student paper does a bang up job of explaining why as forteans we will never accept the "doesn't exist" hypothesis in the absence of definitive proof one way or the other. It's not just good science--it's way more interesting when we leave the door open to accidental discoveries. (CM)

MJ Banias tackles the question of how a Non Human Intelligence would interact with humans, and while his answer is a bit heady, it makes perfect sense to those of us of the fortean persuasion. Essentially, our itty bitty pea brains are incapable of dealing with whatever advanced intelligence is "out there," so our imagination steps in and creates a reality that fits into our beliefs and folklore. But it's not just inside our heads this happens. Banias is suggesting that an advanced consciousness is itself compelled to morph into whatever form our subconscious chooses. Bend your mind around that concept, and when you need a break (or a good laugh) read ‘Aliens use my body’: Sydney-based medium claims to communicate with extraterrestrials. Be warned though, it's cringe worthy. But back to some real forteana, with Nick Redfern's Women in Black, the Chupacabra, and a “Goblin”. Each of these three topics can stand on their own merits, which leads us to wonder what Nick's document vault looks like, and if he'd let us play in it for a weekend. (CM)

Rob Schwarz shares with us the 1980 story of police constable Alan Godfrey and how a night of herding lost cattle ended with a flash of light and a loss of 15 minutes from his timeline. Godfrey later revealed details of his experience while under hypnosis but remained skeptical of the results, believing that he may have simply remembered a dream. Seems to us Godfrey would have made an excellent fortean which, if you think about it, is exactly what a busy police constable should be. On a lighter note, we present Jimi Hendrix’s Ghost and His UFO and Alien Encounters. On the Isle of Wight where Jimi performed his last concert there is a statue of the rock and roll legend. Neighbors however are complaining. The statue, they say, doesn't fit in with the architecture of the surrounding buildings. Oh, and it's haunted...at least that was the word on April Fool's day. Seriously though, Jimi was very attuned to the paranormal and had personal experiences with both UFO's and ghosts. We think he'd like his statue to stay right where it is. (CM)

The 2017 International Cryptozoology Conference will be held in Portland, Maine, on Sunday, September 3, 2017. Confirmed speakers include Paul LeBlond, Linda Godfrey, Craig Woolheater, Steve Bissette, Joe Citro, Seth Breedlove, Bruce Champagne, and Chris Thompson. There will also be an innovative panel of Young Cryptozoologists and an East Coast Premier screening of Small Town Monsters’ new documentary on Mothman. Follow the link for schedule and hotel information. Too bad Lyle Blackburn isn't on the speakers list but you can catch a Jim Harold interview with him on In Search Of The Southern Sasquatch. (PH)

Here's a thought, brought to light by Daryl J.Bem, Professor Emeritus of Psychology at Cornell University: If one is going to disparage research on specific subjects, as well as the methods and results, then one should check one's facts lest one end up looking like the behind of a barnyard animal. Nice work kicking Tom Bartlett to the curb, Professor. And now for Some Thoughts On Quantum Physics & Stone Tape Theory. There has been a theory out there for a while now that "ghosts" are the result of residual energy of an individual's life being absorbed into the surrounding area over a period of time. Mark Davis recently contacted the Reverend Matt Smith with his thoughts on the matter and did a pretty good job of elaborating the theory, even answering the question of why some folks see spooks and others don't (and it's not because they close their eyes tight and run in the other direction). So if you're one of the members of our readership who not only see ghosts but record the sounds they make, this should interest you: Sidereal Time EVP Study — call for participation is an effort to learn if the occurrences and quality of EVP recordings are affected by changes in star time. It's a bit cerebral but that shouldn't intimidate anyone--if you can face apparitions in the darkness you can certainly face the challenges of an empirical study. (CM)

In the starting line up: The Vatican. Yes, the focal point of the Catholic Church has been involved in the search for a means to travel through time. Most fascinating is the device with which it is credited, a television-like apparatus that provided images of both the past and the future, and which attracted the attention of the CIA lest it fall into the wrong hands. But the papacy is not alone in its desires to time travel. Brent Swanser reviews a myriad of inventions and devices which only help to underline how desperately humanity wants to understand itself--or control the world. Depends on your perspective. But "machines," per se, might not even be needed for time travel, according to Paul Dienach, The Man Who Fell Into A Coma And Woke Up In The Year 3,906. Apparently, he woke up that year in the body of a man named Andrew Northman, who is told "everything that had happened in the world during the last two millennia." That alone should be sufficient evidence to indicate that Dienach's "diary" of the experience is just a novel. (CM)

Jerome Clark's monumental The UFO Encyclopedia is perhaps the greatest single piece of ufological labor and solid information created to date. This work, which saw two editions in the 1990s, still is the most authoritative resource for the panoply of UFO events, people, organizations, and theories. Unfortunately, the tome is out of print, only available in used condition, and not cheap. Rich Reynolds praises a slightly more-modest (705 pages) Clarkian work, Jerry's 1998 The UFO Book. Rich is highly impressed by the completeness and detail in this bargain-priced volume, and he seems to abandon his customary despair and become almost hopeful about the prospects for ufology when he observes that "the total UFO phenomenon ... must be studied holistically in order to understand (and eventually explain) it." But Rich is rather less positive in Why the "Rabble" Sees (and Studies?) UFOs. Ponder Rich's takeaway from a book review of Peter T. Struck's Divination and Human Nature: A Cognitive History of Intuition in Classical Antiquity. Whether you agree or not with Rich's premise, again he offers valuable information about a worthwhile publication. And Reynolds is "fair and balanced" in his appraisal of early UFO periodicals when he notes Those Old UFO Magazines are Sometimes Goofy, Sometimes on Point. Note particularly Brad Steiger's theorizing about the source for UFO experiences, and Commenter cda's perceptive remarks about why such magazines will likely never be seen again. (WM)

Given the intellectual level of most professional soccer players in the UK, which is in inverse proportion to their salaries, it will surprise few to realize that what is evidently lens flare is mistaken for the spirit of a dead dog. Perhaps a listen to the Kevin Randle's interview with Larry Lawson, in which he discusses "how perceptions can be blurred by the belief structure of the witness," might prove enlightening for those who who are determined to make something out of nothing. (LP)

Chris Woodyard draws our attention to an item from 1897 which relates the experience of a woman who believed she was visited in the night by "ancient spirits" with bad hair-do's. Vivid imagination, waking dream, or just too much cheese at supper, perhaps? Then we go from Wales to The Wisconsin Tire Swing Lurker and a woman's recollection of her teenage experience of being observed by a scary yellow-eyed "black, hairy being." Linda Godfrey wonders if this was a sighting of a young Sasquatch, of which there have been others in the area in recent years. (LP)

On September 14, 2011, a nondescript male claiming to hail from Meridian, Idaho, checked into a small motel in Washington state using an assumed name and a false address. That in and of itself wasn't that strange, but the man's lack of appropriate outdoor attire made him stand out to the front desk clerk, as did his lack of luggage. Later the motel maid would note that the strange guest refused to allow her into the room, and seemingly never left in search of food or other entertainment. On his checking out day, this strange person from nowhere did in fact check out. He was found in his room closet, on his knees as if in prayer, having hung himself from the closet rod. Being a tall man this was no mean feat, leading police to suspect foul play but giving them no other evidence from which to work, and no next of kin to notify. (CM)

Recently we discussed The Rise of U.F.O.s in America, an earnest and mostly accurate effort by "The Scarlet Woman" to provide some basic knowledge about key UFO cases and to explain why there is a perceived rise in UFO sightings in America. This response to that article describes an apparent instance of missing time shared by a number of musicians on the way to a concert in Edmonton, Alberta. Though the author is properly skeptical of the odd occurrence being necessarily the result of a UFO abduction, she notes that two days before this trip listeners to the local radio station reported a weird light over Edmonton. Coincidence? Most likely. Time magazine's Alexandra Genova has a novel look at some Italian UFO devotees, many of whom profess contact experiences of one sort or another, in They are Among Us. Photographing the UFO Believers. This piece profiles the work of Italian photojournalist Manfredi Pantanella, who is laboring among what Genova seems to regard as "the 'Ufologic' community in Italy." We understand that some of the most rigorous work in ufology is being done in that nation, but Pantanella focuses on a group of people who come at the subject in an almost religious manner, many informed by past encounters they firmly believe they have had with aliens. The testimonies are generally fairly standard contactee accounts, but Pantanella's photography is often awesome and conveys impressions that words alone fail to do. (WM)

Now this is just disheartening, not to mention disappointing and unpalatable. A "scientist" by the name of Eugene Shinn, formerly employed by the US Geological Service, has admitted to falsifying information by planting fake artifacts around the Bimini underwater site. It gets worse. According to Shinn, he and his coworkers found inventing archeological evidence amusing, which we suppose isn't surprising given Shinn's belief that anyone in disagreement with him is a lesser being. In light of this deception, which serves as both betrayal and waste of taxpayers' dollars, we are left wondering who, if anyone, we can trust. What sort of motivation would compel a scientist to regard his post with such contempt? Why make a mockery of all others who administer their research in full account of the trust they wield? This isn't about a skeptic wanting to disprove theories regarding the age of an ancient stone wall. This is about integrity, respect, and conscientiousness--or in this case, the complete lack thereof. Trust destroyed. Good luck getting it back guys. (CM)

They're just lights in the sky, but for some reason the behavior of these three over Gosport, Hampshire, England, around 10:50pm on January 9th intrigues us. Roger Marsh tells us that MUFON's Great Britain National Director closed the case as an "Unknown." The lights' movements don't particularly look like they're helicopter-borne. Drones? Open Minds' Alejandro Rojas, with permission of filmmaker James Fox, presents the Exclusive Full Interview of Former Arizona Governor Discussing his Phoenix Lights UFO Sighting (Video). This is a historically interesting video, so it's worth your while to review it. The article partly promos Fox's UFO Congress presentation video marking the 20th anniversary of the controversial Phoenix Lights event (or events), but you've got to spend money on that one. Still on the subject of UFO images, Rich Reynolds weighs in on two classics in Iconic UFO Photos that Intrigue (Me). Reynolds takes what might at first seem a minor detail about the attitude of the objects in both the July 7, 1947, William Rhoades and May 11, 1950, Paul Trent UFO photos and considers whether it supports genuineness or fakery. (WM)

Arjun Walia discusses the international governments and secret services around the world who have taken an interest in PSI phenomena in general, and psychokenisis specifically as a means to developing a weapon that doesn't require ammunition or get bogged down in sand or mud. Video footage is included from a laboratory in Leningrad where Nina Kulagina, a citizen of the former Soviet Union, attempts to demonstrate her psychokinetic powers. We leave it to our readers to decide for themselves if the clip is genuine or if someone has monkeyed with it--hard to tell unless you were in the room with Kulagina, who by the way spent the last 20 years of her life being subjected to tests of her abilities. (CM)

Nick Redfern looks back at tales of infants disappearing or appearing thanks to the intervention of WIB--Women in Black, but not to be undermined by the ladies, we learn that Silent Men in Black Appear at Campsite. This story from the 1950s was recently related on Coast to Coast AM and remains unexplained. (LP)

The question is not new, but the latest idea to find the answer certainly is. A professor from the University of Otago in New Zealand has proposed sampling the Loch waters for environmental DNA (eDNA), a technique which can detect a wide spectrum of lifeforms which "lose cells from their skin, or digestive system, or whatever." If the research goes ahead, it offers the possibility that Nessie's existence can be confirmed or denied. BUT, Glasgow Boy keeps our excitement in check by asking sensible questions about eDNA and Nessie. He demonstrate that the procedure and any results may be much more complex than simply analyzing samples of water. Elsewhere, he continues his examination of the credibility or otherwise of Poor Old Alex Campbell Part II, the man who largely kicked off the Nessie-mania with which we're familiar today. GB wonders however, were Campbell's stories constructed with a view to keeping his job? (LP)

MUFON's witness reporting database has a February 9, 2017, evening case that sounds like some kind of novel, loud, huge, rectangular or "home plate-shaped" military aircraft. One wonders what the witness might have seen were the object to have passed above his home during the day. On the British media front, Incredible Mystery Crop Circles Appear Overnight--Leaving Scientists BAFFLED. Daily Star's George Martin reports that 15 simple but huge rings appeared on March 17th in a field near Carmen de Areco, a town near to Argentina's capital, Buenos Aires. "The circles have completely bamboozled Argentina's best scientists," claims a caption to a somewhat out-of-focus aerial view, paired with an artist's rendition of what the creation of these circles might have looked like. But it's hard to get excited by these circles, especially when they are compared to some of the famous and gorgeous past English agriglyphs, present in an inset to the article and helpful in making it noteworthy. More past glories can be viewed at 10 Fascinating Early UFO Sightings. Listverse reporter Ronald Eayre lists a series (a dozen, actually) of possible UFO sightings ranging from 15th century BC Egypt to early 20th century New Zealand. If you're not familiar with these cases, you probably should be. (WM)

Chris Woodyard relates a 19th century story of crystal-gazing and in particular wonders what were the "large baskets of glass eggs" on sale in Manchester? Over at the Daily Grail, John Reppion looks at Seance Through Science: Edison's Ghost Machine and examines the truth or otherwise about a machine that Edison was alleged to have built which would allow communication with the great beyond. And in a reverse of that scenario, Mark Russell Bell tells us that No Medium Was Needed for These Paranormal Mirror Writing Messages which were said to be messages from the other side, found by the Moffatt family of Southern California some years back. Evidently even the spirit world needs to use the bathroom from time to time. (LP)

Kevin's most recent guest was Minnesotan Lorna Hunter, current member of The International Paranormal Society (TIPS) and formerly active in The Mutual UFO Network (MUFON). Most of the interview concerned the dramatic August 27, 1979, Val Johnson police cruiser-whatever? collision, and the less-known but just as mysterious and rather goofy "Tin Can Man" (or "Men") episode of October 23, 1965. Another older report that intrigued us is profiled by Roger Marsh in Irish Salthill UFO Sighting Recalled. Was this 1986 Galway Bay incident more than just blarney, we feel forced to ask? And just what is that odd multi-ringed formation on the beach? Less mystifying is the fact that California is the Top State with Most UFO Sightings, Say UFO Experts. Cheryl Costa and Linda Miller Costa have assembled a 374-page reference book on UFO sightings that came in to the National UFO Reporting Center (NUFORC) and MUFON from 2001 to 2015. According to reporter Jake Ellison, the book is data-rich and stat-filled. When reading Ellison's article be aware of the difference between "sightings" and "reports" (of sightings). (WM)