Tag: UFO

ULTRATERRESTRIALS ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ INTERDIMENSIONAL HYPOTHESIS

(Animation from GIPHY.com)

Our observable universe consists of three comprehensible spatial dimensions, height, width and depth. We, like all perceivable matter and known forms of life exist within the realms of these three spatial dimensions. But despite the fact that we cannot perceive or even imagine additional dimensions, that is not an indication that they do not or can not exist. According to some Bosonic string theorists there could be as many as 26 dimensions, with 1 dimension being regarded as time (or duration).

When referring to ultraterrestrials and the interdimensional hypothesis in regards to seemingly “unworldly” inexplicable phenomena, two separate primary stances can be put forward to the basis of their origins/or relationship to our reality.

The first stance, is that our perceivable, seemingly independent reality is one of possibly infinite realities. Generally, this concept of multiple/infinite versions of independent realities, is known as the Multiverse theory. These realities, dimensions, parallel universes, are to our current technological (or spiritual) means, cut off and for the most part, inaccessible to us. But alike the unproven theoretical existence of the multiverse, there is also the unproven theoretical existence of beings capable of traversing these infinite dimensions as they please. Either by their own extremely advanced technological prowess, evolution or design.

The second stance, is that within the theoretical 26 (+) dimensions of our conceivable (and inconceivable) reality, there is a great deal going on that we are currently incapable of perceiving at all. The first dimension, is the x-axis, length. The second is the y-axis, height. The third is the z-axis, depth. The fourth dimension is then generally considered to be time. The dimensions beyond the fourth dimension drift further from our tangible understanding of spatial relation to concepts beyond our physical, measurable universe. Our five basic senses, touch, sight, hearing, smell and taste (along with our other senses, equilibrium, and so on) are all designed to operate within the first four dimensions. Theoretically, if a being could exist in even the fifth and/or sixth dimensions, it would interact with time completely differently to the way we do. Some theorists suggesting that the fifth and sixth dimensions ascend time as a linear construct, but rather a constant of past, present and future. What does this mean, if a being somehow existed or learned to traverse these higher dimensions? Theoretically, they could go anywhere, in all of space and time.

But who or what are these beings?

Advanced/divine/ethereal beings or extremely advanced machines (searching/scanning the entirety of time and space). They could have been appearing in countless forms all around our world, since the dawn of time or beyond. In the guise of UFO, ghostly apparitions, ball lightning or perhaps more commonly, something similar to a microsecond flicker of light completely unnoticed in a room full of people. They could ignore and defy the laws of physics, witnessed during brief encounters before vanishing, more often than not, without leaving a trace.

As illustrated in a topic I covered some time ago, regarding the Infinite Monkey theorem, when you start dealing with the concept of infinite, you are faced with an infinite supply of outcomes. Theoretically, every imaginable outcome you or I could ever conceive, is but a definite, minute fraction of the infinite possibilities, given an infinite amount of time (keeping in mind, some theoretical beings can manipulate and transcend time, all past, present and future). So by the very nature of the proposed theory of ultraterrestrials and interdimensional travelers, to suggest there is ‘one’ singular reason, ‘one’ type of “visitor” to our world would be theoretically impossible.

In many ways, the notion of ultraterrestrials, interdimensional travelers in lieu of a more traditional concept of extraterrestrials to many can seem like an even greater stretch of the imagination. Because it makes the question of “are we alone in the universe?” somewhat more difficult to answer. Because you’re no longer simply asking “where” did that UFO come from, in relation to our universe, but “where” in relation to our reality. Then to make it even more complicated, you now have to ask “when” it came from. Because theoretically, if you yourself witnessed an ultraterrestrial/interdimensional craft shooting across the night sky. You could unknowingly be looking at something that is on the same flight path, spiraling through junctures of time that moments later, passes over earth’s sky 11, 700 years ago. While one of your far distant relatives looks up in awe of the very same craft, seconds (relative to the craft) after you saw it in the present.

Perhaps, ultraterrestrials, interdimensional beings are responsible for life on this planet. To beings that transcend space and time, cultivating a planet for 4.543 billion years would be a relatively simple task. But what if there was a being that transcended the 10th dimension? Or even the 26 dimensions discussed in Bosonic string theory? The seventh dimension uses our understanding of infinity as a reference point that could be linked to separate versions of infinite, still defined by our universes origin of entropy, generally regarded to be the big bang. To perceive the tenth dimension, means to have access to all variations of all infinities and all variations of every timeline, connected to every infinite version of reality. In other words, absolute omniscience. A being capable of perceiving the 10th dimension, would essentially be considered a god.

Posted on by ᵀᴴᴱ ARGONAUT 1

ᵀᴴᴱ WOW! SIGNAL

(Animation from GIPHY.com)

Every so often, usually in a quiet, fleeting moment, we find our gaze drawn to the night sky to take in the visual cornucopia of twinkling lights that adorn the empyrean. As we try to fathom the vastness of what it is we’re looking at, a question is often ignited in our imagination. “Is anyone else out there, somewhere in the vastness of space?” An answer many of us would go to great lengths to find. What we wouldn’t give for a sign, just one single sign. A single lone, dim beacon, flickering in the darkness of the void, would present and solidify a concept to us, that would change our lives and our world forever, “we are not alone”.

Well, it’s entirely possible that the fabled sign you’ve long hoped and waited for, actually already happened. In fact at the time of writing this text, records of the “sign” could have been sitting dormant now for approximately 42 years.

Enter the Big Ear. Not literally, that’s the name of a radio telescope at the Ohio State University. One of its primary uses at the time was to listen for the sign many of us spend our lives longing to hear, an indication of intelligent life in space. On the 15th of August, 1977, a relatively strong narrowband radio signal was received from space, from the direction of the Sagittarius constellation. The signal was considered such an anomaly, that upon its discovery Astronomer Jerry R. Ehman circled the signal and wrote next to it “Wow!”, hence coining the unusual signal’s nickname. The signal sequence lasted a total of 72 seconds, essentially indicating a possible continuous signal source/transmission (72 seconds, the maximum recorded length due to the rotation of the earth). But what was this interstellar message?

“6EQUJ5”

In actuality, the signal recorded isn’t thought to have been carrying a message, the code ‘6EQUJ5’ is more a representation of the 72 second long, unmodulated, continuous burst of radio energy. The strange thing about the Wow! Signal is that it ticks quite a few of the boxes set out as requirements to indicate a possible extraterrestrial broadcast by the Ohio State University at the time of the observation. While many have argued over the origin of the source of the signal, some even suggesting it erroneously began on Earth, a definitive answer has yet to be discovered.

For decades, more advanced radio telescopes have searched to rediscover the Wow! Signal to no avail. Even attempts at homing in on the Sagittarius Constellation have all proven unsuccessful. Not only unsuccessful, but no similar signal has ever been discovered. Leading many to believe that the signal could have been the byproduct of a passing comet, surrounded in hydrogen emitting the same frequency of that which was discovered. Maybe the distance and positioning was incorrect. A myriad of mistakes that resulted in a reading that is otherwise false, or misleading.

But if however, the signal was not some mistake, not some naturally emitted frequency of hydrogen at 1420MHz but instead an actual signal created by some highly advanced extraterrestrial race, then over 220 million light years away, in the Sagittarius Constellation, a signal was once transmitted. For who or what reason? It may never be known. Some estimations have localized the signal to a star called Tau Sagittarii.

Maybe there is or was intelligent life there, maybe they still are? Perhaps a reconnaissance drone was drifting through the vastness of space, emitting a frequency that traveled light years in all directions. Maybe Earth’s “Big Ear” only heard a very small fraction of a message. Or Maybe the entire event is just a very ordinary event, being taken vastly out of context.

Regardless, to this day, the Wow! Signal is considered to be one of the strongest events recorded, to indicate the possibility that we are not alone in the universe.

Posted on by ᵀᴴᴱ ARGONAUT 0

ᴛʜᴇ ʀᴀʀᴇ ᴘʜᴇɴᴏᴍᴇɴᴏɴ ᴏғ BALL LIGHTNING

The electrical storm seems to be momentarily intensifying, a sudden spell of chaos over this otherwise wet and dreary afternoon. The darkening sight outside your farmhouse window is illuminated every so often, with the sudden burst of blinding light, blue streaks of lightning crackle and arc across the distant countryside. What a fierce world this would be, if mother nature always had such a temperament. Thankfully, you remind yourself, such demonstrations of unbridled wrath are often few and far between. Just as the winds begin to die down, just as the thunder calms and the lightning ceases you breathe a sigh of relief, the storm is passing. You’ve weathered the uncertainty of chaos. Only now, a new form of uncertainty chooses to reveal itself. The kitchen is illuminated with a bluish hue, as the light bleeds like a phantom through the wall. Your eyes widen in awe and disbelief, as this intensely glowing orb of energy, this ball of lightning passes through a wall and directly into your home. Defying your understanding of physics and nature alike, the orb continues to pass through the walls of your home as you scramble after it, fearful and amazed. Until finally, without even the faintest of sounds, this anomalous orb of light vanishes without a trace. As far fetched as this scenario seems, this is the experience shared by some who claim to have witnessed what is known as Ball Lightning.

For years I’ve heard anecdotal accounts regarding sightings of unusual spheres of floating light. These accounts varying from the more common, orbs of light drifting through the countryside during/after electrical storms, to sightings of balls of (often blueish, though sometimes red, orange and fiery in appearance) “lightning” passing through the walls of a person’s home and drifting through the air, completely unobstructed, like some bizarrely incorporeal energy. Despite the many alleged sightings of this phenomenon, at this time, there is no proof or tangible evidence that ball lighting actually does or ever has existed. There also isn’t a definitively agreed upon, scientific explanation for what could actually explain this extremely unusual occurrence.

One of the most well-known sightings was that of R. C. Jennison during a flight from New York to Washington in 1963:

“I was seated near the front of the passenger cabin of an all-metal airliner (Eastern Airlines Flight EA 539) on a late night flight from New York to Washington. The aircraft encountered an electrical storm during which it was enveloped in a sudden bright and loud electrical discharge (0005 h EST, March 19, 1963). Some seconds after this a glowing sphere a little more than 20 cm in diameter emerged from the pilot’s cabin and passed down the aisle of the aircraft approximately 50 cm from me, maintaining the same height and course for the whole distance over which it could be observed.”

Sightings of “globular” balls of light/energy have been occurring throughout history all over the world. In the 17th Century there were accounts of descending orbs of fire, believed to be a symbol of God’s wrath. Even the last emperor of Russia, Tsar Nikolai II (Никола́й II Алекса́ндрович) reported witnessing a spectacle of ball lighting floating around, drifting at varying heights, gliding along the floor at one point, in a small Alexandrian Church, during a fierce thunderstorm.

In more superstitious times, folklore the world over may have had different names for this very same phenomenon, one such name could have been Will-o’-the-wisp. A wisp was a term given to a handful of straw, that could be lit to fuel a small flame. In other words, will of the wisp meant a sentient flame, a light source that could move about freely on its own.

In the Australian outback, for thousands of years the Aboriginals have called a mysterious light source Min min, believing to follow these lights means to never be seen again. Aarnivalkea in Finland. Iiekko, Irrbloss, and Iygtemand in the Netherlands. Aleya in Bangladesh. Chir batti in regions around Pakistan. La Candileja and Luz mala in parts of South America.

Alternatively, there could be unrelated origins/causes that create this visual anomaly which are all considered to be “ball lightning” when that may not be the case at all. The glowing spheres appear in different sizes, from as small as a pea to several meters wide. Varying colors, though most frequently a luminous blue. In some accounts the orbs hiss and crackle, others are reportedly silent. Some versions of events indicate the orbs have catastrophic interactions with their environment, in some cases resulting even in human death. But in other sightings, they can pass through objects/walls and seem as though they do not interact with the physical world at all. Most witnesses report this spectacle is brief, ranging from a few seconds to at most a few minutes. While generally the trajectory of the floating orb is assumed random and erratic, some few believe ball lighting moves in a slow, purposeful manner, indicating that like the old stories say, a sentient source of light.

Is ball lightning the result of very unique conditions, creating something so rare that its properties leave us (for the time being) utterly perplexed? At the moment it rests on the cusp of the paranormal spectrum, because there is still so much to be understood. Many have suggested the nature of Ball Lightning is as elusive as any other Unidentified Flying Object because it simply isn’t of this world and is so far removed from our understanding. Others have put forward (similarly to the myths and folklore of old) that there is some spiritual/religious/divine meaning to the existence of Ball Lightning.

In 1960, in a paper titled the “Preliminary Report on Ball Lightning” by J. R. McNally, it was estimated that 5% of the world population had at some stage witnessed ball lightning. So the next time you’re experiencing stormy weather conditions, keep your eyes peeled for the elusive spectacle most live their lives without ever witnessing. Then if you do catch a glimpse, you’ll be one step closer than most to understanding, what is Ball Lightning?

Posted on by ᵀᴴᴱ ARGONAUT 1

ᵀᴴᴱ SYSTEM

(Animation from GIPHY.com)

In 1859, Alfred Russel Wallace discovered a pathogenic fungus called Ophiocordyceps unilateralis. When an ant becomes infected by a spore of this fungus, the fungus alters its behavior, driving it to seek out an ideal place for the parasitic fungus to “reproduce”. Carpenter ants have adapted to detect this behavior and attempt to counter the effects by a single ant sacrificing itself to drag the infected individual as far from the colony as possible, where the two will die to minimize the losses of the collective. If however, the infected ant is not discovered in time, it will fix itself to a prime location with its mandibles and undergo a transformation. Over the course of several days, the ants body becomes the husk and lifeless host for the reproductive organ of the fungus to sprout. A horn, often several times longer than the length of the deceased ant’s body grows from its head. A bulb develops on the horn-like structure, which eventually bursts, loosing its spores, spreading the pathogenic fungus. In some events, resulting in the total obliteration of an ant colony. It’s been suggested that the specific colony that ophiocordyceps unilateralis targets is often undergoing a state of overpopulation. Acting as a sort of “rectification process”, to cull the insect masses and restore balance to the delicate ecosystem of the rain-forest.

The ant and the pathogenic fungus, are no doubt completely oblivious to the roles they play, the purposes they serve in maintaining the balance of the ecosystem. Merely the victims of a system, they could never understand. The seemingly harsh and uncaring balance of the natural world. It’s the same reason the largest shark embryo cannibalizes around a dozen of its siblings while still in the womb. The same reason a starving baby bird might peck a rival sibling to death while waiting for a parent to return. The ugly and instinctual desire for preservation, at the cost of another’s loss. The innumerable “necessary evils” that have kept our planet in check since the dawning of the ages.

You might think, as a human being, the most advanced known form of life on this planet, that you’re generally above such primal turns of fate. You’re simply beyond the cruelty of nature’s grasp. But depending on where you are in this world and your level of exposure to the “system”, you might have a very different opinion on the matter. In the human world, the system is complex, elaborate and often difficult to detect or even comprehend (in some instances). But it is just as real as the systems in the natural world and in some cases, as equally ruthless as mother nature herself.

Could a “will” exist to “sustain”, “control” a societal existence by means and methods many might consider underhand and manipulative?

It’s complicated, because our “system” isn’t purely based around survival, not anymore. Survival is still an element of the system, but it is heavily involved in what we as a collective species believe. “They” want to know what we think and how they can influence that thought. If you can control the worldview, you can control the world. As ominous, daunting and unpleasant as that sounds, rulers have been using this tactic since the beginning of recorded civilization. The only problem is, myths and human sacrifice aren’t going to cut it anymore. So the best option they have is using the closest thing we have to deities, which are idols, idolized humans of the world celebrity status. Using revered individuals to set a standard of thought/opinion you can popularize a worldview just as efficiently as a prehistoric Shaman sharing a foreboding tale aside a campfire. Ruling the world isn’t about mass slave labor to build some grandiose structure anymore (well, maybe a metaphorical structure), it’s about influencing how and where money is spent. Despite all the outrageous explanations for who/what/why/when in the end, the system is only concerned about sustaining what they deem a specific desired standard and also, converting the individual into a more efficiently monitored source of income. The system seeks to preserve itself, at the expense of privacy, truth and the lives of the misinformed.

Belief is the key, because blind unquestioning allegiance has always been useful in the development (and destruction) of nations the world over. Great fortunes have been amassed through countless wars, where more often than not the men dying in them are the least informed of what the conflict is truly about. But that makes perfect sense, because if the “powers that be” at any stage in history were honest about their intentions, such as mere financial gains, there wouldn’t be quite so many willing to lay down their lives. So great elaborate stories are sung on both sides, telling of how either enemy offends and opposes everything the other side ever stood for. Many lives are lost, resources, lands are claimed and those orchestrating events grow a little more powerful.

The “system” is part of the reason that in the year 2019, economists have claimed data has surpassed oil in value. There are some who believe interference in the “system’s” agenda in some events, can lead to the death of an individual. That certain “truths” are kept secret from public knowledge and the control of said truths helps perpetuate the state of normality they have long cultivated (such as those explained in the book by M. W. Cooper, Behold a Pale Horse).

There are even extreme suggestions put forward, such as the belief that the system manipulates which chemicals appear in foods/products, to cause health implications that could cause various ailments (cancers, diseases) to purposefully control the population. Also, suppressing cures, medical technology for the same reason.

For better or worse, we are all part of “the system” or maybe even just “a system”. The depths at which these systems operate may be the general level that is publicly understood or they may run much deeper and darker than we could ever anticipate. At which point, we have about as much chance escaping our fate as the ant from the ophiocordyceps unilateralis fungus.

Posted on by ᵀᴴᴱ ARGONAUT 3

ᴛʜᴇ DRAKE EQUATION ᴀɴᴅ ABIOGENESIS

(Animation from GIPHY.com)

What is the meaning of Life? Many cringe and recoil at the mere mention of such an inquiry. Some of us ponder this question aloud during the naivety of youth, but as we grow older, this, like many other subjects become private and scarcely mentioned. Not because the question in itself is offensive, but we know all too well where this seemingly futile train of thought leads. Befuddlement, doubt, in lieu of some religious footing or adequate distraction, this can be the birthplace of nihilistic thought. It can seem as though there just isn’t any rhyme or reason to anything, merely a perpetual struggle of chaotic forces, seemingly meaningless events leading to meaningless outcomes and so on and so forth, for a meaningless eternity. So how could anything possibly matter, even in the slightest?

The innumerable species that have been wiped out entirely from our planet, many of which unknown to us, did they “mean” anything? The (approximately) 110 billion homo sapiens almost identical to us that have lived and died already, did they “mean” anything? The difficult part about the question “what is the meaning of life?” is that we don’t truly understand what life is. Yes, we know its characteristics, its commonalities (on this planet) but what do we really know about the nature of all life on this world? It simply wants to survive, it wants to procreate, a constant struggle of the individual to leave a common legacy behind. The simultaneously ugly and beautiful struggle, the failures, the successes, what is it all leading toward?

Is the struggle of life some complex form of entropy, disorder, working towards equilibrium? Is the fabled concept of the “supreme being” the embodiment of an achieved “equilibrium” of life? The final balance of all living chaos?

In 1961, Dr. Frank Drake came up with a theoretical equation to estimate the probability of communicative extraterrestrial civilizations within our Milky Way Galaxy. The equation is as follows:

N = R∗ · fp · ne · fl · fi · fc · L

N = Number of probable civilizations in the Milky Way Galaxy.

R∗ = Average rate of star formation in the Milky Way Galaxy.

fp = Fraction of formed stars that are orbited by planet(s).

ne = Average number of planets capable of supporting life (as we understand it) per star, that is orbited by planet(s).

fl = Fraction of planets that could support life (as we understand it) that actually do develop life at some stage.

fi = Fraction of planets that develop life that lead to the evolution/existence of intelligent life capable of creating primitive civilization.

fc = Fraction of developed civilizations that become technologically advanced enough to release detectable signs of their existence into space (signal broadcast, etc).

L = Length of time such detectable signals, signs are capable of being received to interpret the civilizations existence (past or present).

In the very least likely scenario, when applying doubtful estimations, N can equal a value much less than 1. Suggesting that outside of earth, there is no intelligent life accompanying us in our galaxy. In some of the most optimistic of estimations however, the estimated number of intelligent extraterrestrial civilizations in the Milky Way Galaxy can be in the vicinity of: 27, 000, 000 (assuming there are approximately 300 billion stars).

Despite these estimations using values based heavily on assumption, having a difference of below zero and over 27 million there is one crucial flaw to the concept of the equation. It relies almost entirely on the belief that all life as we understand it, arises from abiogenesis. The process by which life arises from inorganic/non-living matter.

Even if we were to look back, to the generally scientifically accepted age, 3.6 billion years ago when the last (known) universal common ancestor (LUCA) “spawned into existence”, a single-celled organism that seemingly appeared from a primordial cocktail. We don’t definitively know that LUCA came about from abiogenesis. We also don’t actually know (at this time) if abiogenesis has any real basis in reality. One of the reasons some doubt abiogenesis is that no one has ever successfully replicated the process to create life from matter. Some suggesting that the origin of life was an accident that took millions of years to occur, under very specific conditions. If abiogenesis isn’t the answer to our origin, then (outside of religious claims) we really don’t know how life began or even what it truly is. If it didn’t begin on this world, then where might life have come from in the beginning and why/how was it brought here in the first place?

Life wants to go on, thus far, it has succeeded. Life adapts, life learns from its mistakes. Life prioritizes procreation above all else, constantly looking to a future beyond the horizon. Life begets life. There are all sorts of theories why life “impregnates” a planet, a solar system, a galaxy or universe at large. Perhaps to be the designated custodians of time and space, for what purpose or from what origin is anyone’s guess.

As much as it may pain some to hear it, we often fail to realize how incredibly small we are in the grand scheme of things. You and I, everyone we’ve ever known, we all make up a minute fraction of a single tooth on a very, very small cogwheel. This cog, in turn spins another cog, and so on and so forth, to form a “machine” that we on the tooth of our cog may always struggle to comprehend. But the mere fact that we cannot perceive or even understand the nature of a system, doesn’t mean the system does not exist, serves a purpose or even has a will of its own.

Are we capable of understanding the will of a universe? We don’t even know the shape of the universe we find ourselves within. We also don’t quite understand what is beyond our universe, if anything at all. Will our universe always expand freely? Will a time come when the sentient “living” beings are required to overcome very real threats that could destabilize the entirety of space and time as we perceive it? The once seemingly primitive and dormant forms of life becoming antibodies (so to speak) and protectors of the “universe” the reality/dimension that holds the soul potential to give existence to everything we can comprehend. The desperate struggle of existence only on a much grander scale?

It’s possible the answers lie beyond the physical reality entirely. But the problem isn’t a lack of meaning, but rather the infinite possibilities as to what and why things are the way they are that leave us wondering. The belief that there is no meaning and everything that ever has or will happen is merely the work of chance alone, is quite a simple and somewhat lazy explanation. Because chance alone suggests that life as we know it is inevitable and inescapable, it is only a matter of time. A matter of rolling the dice under the right conditions. It implies that the existence of “life” is part of the “natural order” of the universe. Which means the meaning of life is integral to the meaning of the universe itself. Which brings us to the question that is connected to “what is the meaning of life?” and “what is the meaning of the universe?”, which is “what is the meaning of consciousness?”

This reality/dimension, in all it’s conceivable (and inconceivable) totality, what would there be in lieu of its existence? Virtually all of our answers involve something already existing to cause something else. The Big Bang requires the existence of mass and energy. Even in religion, God (or gods) create the universe, humanity etc, but where did God(s) come from? How did “something” come from “nothingness”? Even if you start with a blank canvas, where did the blank canvas come from? What was there before God(s)? Where did the first particle of matter come from?

This, much more complex, all-encompassing question is no doubt intrinsically linked with the meaning of the universe. However, just like the limits of our physical universe and how we cannot perceive what is beyond it, this knowledge, as far as I can tell, goes beyond the limits of our consciousness. But perhaps, one day, that will change.

Posted on by ᵀᴴᴱ ARGONAUT 1

ʙᴇʏᴏɴᴅ BELIEF

(Illustrated by Pearson Scott Foresman)

A truth that many are reluctant to believe and in itself may be extraordinarily difficult to prove, becomes what some call an inconvenient truth. In many instances (such as the documentary by the same name) it is used to describe a truth(?) that is inconvenient because it suggests a change or realization that would create new challenges for all who “choose” to believe it. This holds true for other concepts, such as the occurrence of something absolutely incredible, one of the many religious stories, paranormal sightings, anything that exceeds the limits of acceptable human experience. In the following mock news reports I’ve attempted to illustrate a scenario where this inconvenient truth concept could be applied on a hypothetically global scale.

THE ARRIVAL

DAY 1

“Eyewitnesses in their BILLIONS observed the gathering of millions of UFO’s throughout our worlds skies tonight. Fleets of flying saucers are entering the earth’s atmosphere as we look on in awe and in fear. At long last, the age old question, “are we alone in the universe?” Has been answered, answered with a resounding “no”. We are not alone. On this day that will surely go down in history, our universe just grew a little smaller. For better or for worse, the first of our interstellar neighbors, have arrived.”

DAY 2

“The question on everyone’s lips, is this an invasion? Do they want something? Are these mysterious alien crafts here to take humanity somewhere far from this solar system? Is this the end? We simply don’t know. Joined efforts and singular attempts made by nations and even individuals, have all but failed. The eerie silence is becoming too much for many to bear, with schools and businesses closing throughout nations across the globe. What is going on?”

DAY 3

“We expected bad, we hoped for the best, what we got was confusing. Reporting live from London, England, where the nation has awoken to once familiar empty skies. At approximately 3 AM, our time, the alien fleets began to rapidly ascend from earth’s atmosphere. Like the biblical exodus, the alien crafts have not only left our planet but have left our solar system. Why they came here, what they wanted, where they’ve gone, we have no idea. We’ve brought on Professor Clarkson to discuss possible theories. Good morning Professor.”

90 YEARS LATER

“Up next, the 90 year anniversary of the spectacle that fooled the world, the great “world fleet” phenomenon. The day the earth stood still, amusing for some, shocking for others, it was thought by many to be an invasion of flying saucers. The surviving footage recorded by today’s standards looks incredibly dubious, but 90 years ago people were convinced they were being visited by an alien race. Coming up, we have physicist Christopher Rorke discuss possibilities for what might have actually caused the alleged sightings.”

CONCLUSION

To a third party, a truth that leaves no tangible form of a metaphorical footprint of any indisputable kind, is by all intents and purposes, identical to a lie of the same elusive nature. In this sense, “belief” in regards to acceptable truth (like most things) is relative, not absolute. If it’s perceivable and a consistent part of many individuals “worldview” then it must be real/true. If however, it is not perceivable, in no way tangible, and above all else unpopular (humans have a tendency to believe what they believe is held true by the majority) then it is likely to be false. This is then amplified exponentially, with the passing of time. An alleged phenomenon that occurred one month ago is one thing, but give it 100 years, 1000 years and “truth” becomes something else entirely. We call myths “myths” with the understanding that they are all strange fictitious stories from the ancient world. But there was a time when these stories were regarded as truths to many. So the next time you find yourself wondering if something is true or false, consider whether or not you’re choosing or not choosing to believe it because it is simply convenient for you to do so.

Posted on by ᵀᴴᴱ ARGONAUT 1

ᴛʜᴇ OBSERVER EFFECT ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ PARANORMAL

(Animation from GIPHY.com)

In physics, the observer effect theory suggests that the mere observation of an event in some way inevitably changes or implicates the event. The concept of the observer effect can often hold true even in a very broad sense. For instance, to measure the electrical resistance of a wire, we apply a current to it, to learn how it resists the current, in ohms (Ω). However, through the application of a current, we increase the heat of the wire and thus the resistance of the wire can increase beyond its natural state resistance. Altering the measurement to some degree.

Another way of explaining the observer effect, is that in order to observe something in its natural state, you (to varying degrees) corrupt/alter its state from what it would have been otherwise (without your interference). So the second you shine a light on something (regardless of what type of light it is, infrared, UV, etc) in order to see it, you’ve already made a foreign implication that has arguably corrupted the observation (more than likely to a minute degree). If you enter an environment bringing with you unfamiliar sounds, smells and visuals, the flora/fauna of the environment are going to react accordingly.

The observer effect is also regularly seen in day to day life whenever anyone holds up a camera, to either record a video or take a photograph. The instant most people are aware the moment is being recorded they often change their behavior (degrees varying, depending on the individual), to better cultivate a representation of themselves they wish to be stored and frozen in time. People often don smiles and cheerful expressions, striking poses. Even someone that isn’t directly with a group of people being photographed will act slightly different to their normal behavior if they’re aware that their presence is being recorded in some way.

So what would happen if you were trying to observe something that somehow, the moment you tried to observe, it always knew? Despite your best efforts, this being was always one step ahead. It didn’t want to be observed, at any cost. This isn’t a new theory, many people that subscribe to the belief in the existence of Bigfoot, Sasquatch, Yetis believe that hiding from Mankind was and is key to the species survival. Suggesting they were possibly a different evolutionary branch of the Australopithecus (or some other common primate ancestor), who unlike our species and its desperate dependency to technological advancement, they favored literally becoming “one with nature”. The can hear and smell us from miles away. A foreign object like a camera left recording in the woods, looks and smells unfamiliar, so they stay so far from it it never registers their presence. So as far as we’re concerned, they don’t exist and that’s how they like it. Of course, the other possibility, is that they don’t actually exist at all.

The same principal could be applied to the Unidentified Flying Object (piloted by extraterrestrial beings). If an advanced alien race existed, it would be capable of interstellar travel and likely have access to technology we couldn’t even imagine. Means of observing us with eerie precision. Maybe they can look at us through instruments from thousands of miles away (even through walls)? Maybe they can pick up sound frequencies and listen to our hearts beat? Maybe they can even read our thoughts? Maybe they’re aware where and when you’re looking up into the sky and wondering if they exist at all. In most instances they successfully observe us while we remain utterly oblivious. But through slight errors throughout the ages, they’ve experienced their own observer effect on us. Which, if there is validity to the claims and they are connected to advanced alien life, me sitting here writing this text is a result of their observation. My otherwise natural behavior has been implicated by their attempt to observe the human race.

One last example of a paranormal phenomenon that could theoretically be effected by the observer effect is the behavior/appearance of poltergeist. Most ghost sightings seem to share certain similarities. More often than not after relocating or spending time in an unfamiliar place. In most instances when an individual is alone and under a certain amount of duress. No one can actually explain what a ghost is or prove they truly exist. It could be possible, if an incorporeal being did exist, that it connected or portrayed itself to someone through a sort of psychic connection more so than a physical tangible one. The link could be extremely weak and precarious in some instances, stronger and more volatile in others (resulting in sounds, movement, frequent sightings). But then when foreign parties arrive to observe the phenomenon, everything stops. The mere presence of others, and the implications that accompany them could create an observer effect that results in a total lack of paranormal activity.

It’s this seemingly delicate and temperamental nature of the most rare or paranormal phenomenon that leads many to discard the possibility of it ever occurring at all. But just because something is highly unpredictable, nigh undetectable and virtually impossible to observe doesn’t definitively prove that it doesn’t exist.

Posted on by ᵀᴴᴱ ARGONAUT 3

ᴛʜᴇ ᴅᴀʀᴋ HISTORY ᴏғ PARANORMAL ABDUCTION

(Illustrated by Édouard de Beaumont, 1871)

"One, two, Freddy's coming for you.
Three, four, better lock your door.
Five, six, grab a crucifix.
Seven, eight, gonna stay up late. 
Nine, ten, never sleep again."


—A Nightmare on Elmstreet, Wes Craven

The Gathering of One Hundred Supernatural Tales. Hyakumonogatari Kaidankai (百物語怪談会). During the Edo period of Japan (1603-1868) this was a game that pertained to the sharing of ghostly tales (played only during a particularly dark night). At the start of the game you would light 100 lanterns (or candles) and in the center of the room you lay a mirror flat on a table, reflecting upward. One by one, a story is told and someone is sent to extinguish a lantern, then look into the mirror. Slowly but surely, with each tale ending a lantern is blown out and the room grows darker and darker. Superstitiously alleged that by the loss of the last lantern, a connection with the spirit world would be at a point where an individual would see something unworldly in the reflection of the mirror. Some believing it would result in the summoning of some malevolent spirit.

Chances are, like most people and especially if you happen to be reading this text, you are more than likely fond of a good “Ghost Story”. The exchange of haunting stories has been referred to as a “pleasant fear” by many throughout the ages. They intrigue and entertain, but more importantly they propose the question, “what if?” which leaves many wondering at the end of a gruesome tale, could this/does this really happen?

There is of course, another possible reason behind why people tell/told frightening stories and that was getting people to do or not do certain things, out of fear. From the Middle English word ‘bogge’, came the word bogey which meant “something frightening” or “scarecrow” (alternatively, some believe the word’s origin goes back much further linking to a myriad of dark and monstrous creatures). The word “bogus” is believed by some to have possible ties to this word origin also, in that bogus means something counterfeit or false.

Stories of monstrous creatures the likes of the Boogeyman, Sack Man (El Hombre Del Saco), the child eating Lamia, were/are very useful in deterring otherwise overly confident or curious children from going off on their own and exposing themselves to isolated situations, where real dangers may have found them. A sort of psychological, unseen “scarecrow” to keep them in check.

However, the fear of having your child abducted by some dark and ethereal force is by no means a rare or new concept. In several cultures around the world it is a superstitious tradition to call babies “ugly” or even pretend (or actually) spit at them to create the illusion that the infant is disliked, unloved and unappealing. Because it’s said that either the Devil or various dark spirits/entities will claim your child if it’s perceived to be particularly charming. This custom is most prevalent in Bulgaria and Thailand.

Many cultures have stories surrounding abduction, most of which specifically describe the abduction of children. Some Judeo-Christian sects have superstitions involving Lilith (succubus) abducting newborn babies (some sources suggest only male) during the night. Suggesting she either raises them as her own, or more commonly, eats the children or drinks their blood to absorb their life-force. This superstition led to the use of silver pendants given to newborns to ward off the demon/succubus from abducting them.

Throughout most world mythology, you will find stories/legends surrounding mortals being taken against their will, by monstrous or “divine” beings. Qalupalik, of Inuit mythology, the sea-dwelling humanoid creature that abducts lone children. Even throughout the Greek Mythos the gods often abducted mortals when are where they chose. For various (often nefarious) purposes. Ganymedes abducted by Zeus (in the form of an eagle) to serve as cup-bearer in Olympus. Persephone abducted by Hades, dragged to the underworld where he made her his wife.

The mythological abduction trope is so prevalent it led to the short book titled, ‘Supernatural Abductions in Japanese Folklore’, by Carmen Blacker, 1967. It was a relatively common belief that unforeseen entities or gods wanted to abduct lone individuals, again, particularly young boys.

Stepping aside from the stories and superstitions however, are the experiences of paranormal abduction. One particularly interesting account outlined in ‘Alien Abductions: A Return to the Medieval’, written by Anthony Enns, 1999:

“In 1645 a Cornish teenager named Anne Jeffries was found unconscious. When she was revived, she said that she had been assaulted by “little men.” She had been unable to move as they took her up to their “castle in the air,” where they molested her and then sent her home. She referred to these men as “fairies,” and they continued to assault her regularly for a year until she was arrested for witchcraft.”

This story, like the many others scattered throughout history and virtually all cultures isn’t unique. Contrary to what many believe, the abduction story didn’t begin in the United States after or during the Roswell era. But before you take that as evidence that something unworldly has long interfered with mankind, you should know that ‘abduction’, being taken against your will, is an extremely common theme in nightmares. Particularly, in the spectrum of Sleep Paralysis Disorder (Old Hag Syndrome). This type of dreaming can be associated with Lucid Dreaming, a form of dreaming during a state of deep sleep where a dreamer attains an unusual level of mental consciousness. Argued by some to be a state where the dream can be perceived as reality.

Excerpt from a book I wrote about dream interpretation called ENCYCLOPÆDIA SOMNIUM, The Book of Dreams:

“This type of nightmare [Abduction] is extremely common, especially among children (being lost/taken from the safety of their parental guardians). Like most nightmares it occurs during a time of psychological vulnerability. The details of the abduction however, can be extremely varied from dreamer to dreamer. There are many reoccurring tropes, such as alien abductions, the more commonly depicted in film/television the more likely to assist in the creation of the dream scenario. An abduction in itself is a situation where the victim experiences a total lack of control.

They are overpowered and then taken/abducted from a place they consider safe and transported to somewhere unknown/negative. Many dreamers have said that their experience of abduction in dreams highlights the struggle, the fear of being taken, but very few dream as far as seeing the destination or learn the purpose behind this abduction. This is usually because it’s common that unpleasant dreams or nightmares can cause the dreamer to resist earlier on and regain consciousness than a more pleasing dream (unless during Sleep Paralysis Disorder).

This act of being overpowered and controlled can be a direct manifestation of those feelings in the dreamer’s day to day life. It can represent a feeling of a total lack of control over the dreamer’s life, or a specific element of his/her life. It can also be a manifestation of repressed sexual desires. By that same logic, witnessing someone else being abducted can represent a feeling of being incapable/unable to help someone else with seemingly overwhelming problems.“

Unfortunately, sleep paralysis disorder, along with nightmares in general are believed to more commonly afflict people who are stressed, anxious or suffer from various mental illnesses. The concept of unworldly abduction and “interference” could be something that has existed psychologically with mankind for thousands of years. The ancient interpretation of Succubi and Incubi, demons that forced themselves (sexually) on sleeping mortals could be correlated with today’s alien abductions (especially those involving “probing”).

One of the earliest recorded mentions of a succubus appears in a text titled the ‘Sumerian King List’, from Ancient Mesopotamia, dated around 2400 BC.

In regards to something as bizarre as paranormal abduction, especially if you were taken from your bed, possibly even during your sleep, would you believe your own senses and immediately assume what you were experiencing was reality? Or the product of some dream-state? How would you feel about it a day or a week, a year later? Would you tell people or keep it to yourself?

According to the National Center for Biotechnology Information: “Aggregating across studies (total N = 36533), 7.6% of the general population, 28.3% of students, and 31.9% of psychiatric patients experienced at least one episode of sleep paralysis. Of the psychiatric patients with panic disorder, 34.6% reported lifetime sleep paralysis. Results also suggested that minorities experience lifetime sleep paralysis at higher rates than Caucasians.”

Whatever you personally define paranormal abduction as, myth, hallucination or reality, those that do experience it, explain it to be nothing short of absolutely terrifying. Some women have said that the pain experienced during sleep paralysis disorder makes childbirth pale in comparison. Individuals have cracked teeth gritting their jaws during sleep paralysis, fingernails have punctured palms as fists have been clenched. People have awoken with muscle pain from the straining of their body during experiences of this phenomenon. Not to mention cases where individuals have been found with unusual markings on their body and even in rare cases, particles (some claimed to be unknown metals, no substantial proof of this) discovered inside body-parts.

In closing, the question is not “is this real?” because to you or I, if (or when) it happens to us, the experience is essentially real. During that moment, despite your better judgement you may completely succumb to the belief that what you are experiencing is real. Something strange and terrifying is happening. Afterwards you may rationalize it in various different ways. The question is, what is the source of this strange and terrifying experience? Is it a merely a common defect we’re all capable of producing/experiencing in our brains in a state of sleep and some do? Or could there actually be mysterious “beings” that have been preying on our species (and others) since the dawn of time? Thus the constant reflection of it in art, stories, myths, legends, folklore and even today in the most refined concept of the technologically advanced extraterrestrial.

Posted on by ᵀᴴᴱ ARGONAUT 5

SECRETS ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ ENIGMATIC EMPYREAN

(Alleged patent of Nikola Tesla, unverified) 

Hearken not, the man who fears,
 All things we seek to know.
 When shadows fall and storm-cloud nears,
 His ilk, are soon to go.

As veils rise and darkness burns,
The beast called truth appears.
Strange winds will stir the tide that turns,
once 'certainty', to tears.
 —C. M. Johnson

The Unidentified Flying Object (or more commonly known UFO) ignites a certain wonderment among a great many of us. Because despite the fact that there is often a perfectly logical explanation for these sightings, in many instances the explanation is as dubious as the peculiar sighting itself. Like it or not, the situation is unusual and for this, it draws our gaze. But just as it stirs among the imaginations of those willing to believe the extraordinary, so too does it require the justification of those who see it merely as a misunderstood spectacle. And thus, the great and (seemingly) eternal dance of polarized perspectives begins.

People will go to great lengths to share their point of view on a popular matter. Especially if that matter holds a great deal of importance to so many people around the world. Some want others to share their opinion, or gain a more “logical” insight, some merely want you to be aware, some just want to be heard and don’t particularly mind what they’re saying. Whether it’s true or not, doesn’t matter to them. But despite all of these factors that seem to muddy the already turbid waters, somewhere somehow the truth will be unearthed. We may or may not like what is discovered, but truth doesn’t require an opinion to exist.

“Two possibilities exist: either we are alone in the universe or we are not. Both are equally terrifying.”

—Arthur C. Clarke

If I were to address the biggest problem (in my experience) in genuinely studying the nature of anything within the paranormal spectrum, it would be the disingenuous nature of people. Only a liar has the power to change the entire universe as they see fit (even God can’t theoretically control human free will). Unfortunately, a great many will always desire this power. It doesn’t mean that all believers and/or non-believers are lying, but that reality doesn’t always play a part in what some people define as truth. They desire a certain truth and that’s all that matters to them. Utterly blind to any other possibility, even if they’re clutching at proverbial straws.

If asked, personally, where I stand on the existence of extra-terrestrial beings and the appearance of seemingly advanced unidentified flying objects; I could only honestly say, “I don’t know.”

I remember vaguely, seeing something strange as a child (around 8). Some kind of aircraft hung extremely low, seemingly hovering at varying speeds, tailing the family car as we drove along a country road. At one stage, I pressed my face against the rear window and looked up and it seemed to be meters above the car, then quickly ascended into the cloud cover and completely out of sight. Is this a credible memory, even to me the bearer of said memory, absolutely not.

I couldn’t tell you the form of the “craft” because it was so dark, I couldn’t even tell you the layout of the lights. The lights were so bright it was difficult to look directly at them, but most lights in the night are. I can recall, however, the feeling more so than the actual visual spectacle, which was a childish certainty that something extraordinary was happening and how lucky I was to be seeing it. But there were a lot of Alien and UFO cultural influences at that juncture in my childhood. I even learned years later that we were about an hours drive from a large airbase at the time. Which has led me to speculate that what I witnessed was possibly a reckless or faltering pilot of an ordinary craft, mistaken by an 8 year old to be something out of this world. It certainly made an otherwise long and boring car trip entertaining.

This event may have contributed to my interest in the subject of UFOs, but it also led me to understand how a similar event could take place and someone could be deceived. I also appreciate the fact that maybe it was exactly as bizarre as my memory recalls and I tried to subconsciously justify it as a mundane ordinary event to keep a sturdier footing on a blissfully (and willful) ignorant state of normality.

My singular experience in no way contributes to any argument for or against extraterrestrial visitors. Unfortunately, as more and more objects get sent into the skies, we are seeing an influx in reported UFOs. Often UFO sightings also trend with the popularity of the term. Which makes sense because not only would people be more inclined to report false claims, but they would be more likely to look up to see legitimate unidentified objects.

Things like drones, various other flying/floating devices, satellites are more numerous throughout our skies now than ever before. A great many UFO sightings are also considered to be foreign nations or private endeavors utilizing seemingly highly technologically advanced aircraft. Stealth reconnaissance, testing for tactical weaknesses?

It could even be a governmental means to keep track of what makes a society tick. Almost like psychological stress tests to see how the masses respond to certain anomalies. In the same sense, if a government (or groups of) or maybe even something beyond all governments wanted to distract the world population from something, they could manufacture a distraction. A distraction the likes of a global obsession with UFOs.

If only we could go back to simpler times, surely the case would be closed if we could deduce the fact that the UFO is merely the creation of modern times. Maybe after the Roswell incident?

That couldn’t be further from the truth.

As lightly illustrated by Charles Hoy Fort, in his book published in 1919.

Sourced from The Project Gutenberg:

ᴛʜᴇ BOOK ᴏғ ᴛʜᴇ DAMNED

“In the Scientific American, 40-294, is published a letter from Henry Harrison, of Jersey City, copied from the New York Tribune: that upon the evening of April 13, 1879, Mr. Harrison was searching for Brorsen’s comet, when he saw an object that was moving so rapidly that it could not have been a comet. He called a friend to look, and his observation was confirmed. At two o’clock in the morning this object was still visible. In the Scientific American Supplement, 7-2885, Mr. Harrison disclaims sensationalism, which he seems to think unworthy, and gives technical details: he says that the object was seen by Mr. J. Spencer Devoe, of Manhattanville.

“A formation having the shape of a dirigible.” It was reported from Huntington, West Virginia (Sci. Amer., 115-241). Luminous object that was seen July 19, 1916, at about 11 P.M. Observed through “rather powerful field glasses,” it looked to be about two degrees long and half a degree wide. It gradually dimmed, disappeared, reappeared, and then faded out of sight. Another person—as we say: it would be too inconvenient to hold to our intermediatist recognitions—another person who observed this phenomenon suggested to the writer of the account that the object was a dirigible, but the writer says that faint stars could be seen behind it. This would seem really to oppose our notion of a dirigible visitor to this earth—except for the inconclusiveness of all things in a mode of seeming that is not final—or we suggest that behind some parts of the object, thing, construction, faint stars were seen. We find a slight discussion here. Prof. H.M. Russell thinks that the phenomenon was a detached cloud of aurora borealis. Upon page 369 of this volume of the Scientific American, another correlator suggests that it was a light from a blast furnace—disregarding that, if there be blast furnaces in or near Huntington, their reflections would be commonplaces there.

We now have several observations upon cylindrical-shaped bodies that have appeared in this earth’s atmosphere: cylindrical, but pointed at both ends, or torpedo-shaped. Some of the accounts are not very detailed, but out of the bits of description my own acceptance is that super-geographical routes are traversed by torpedo-shaped super-constructions that have occasionally visited, or that have occasionally been driven into this earth’s atmosphere. From data, the acceptance is that upon entering this earth’s atmosphere, these vessels have been so racked that had they not sailed away, disintegration would have occurred: that, before leaving this earth, they have, whether in attempted communication or not, or in mere wantonness or not, dropped objects, which did almost immediately violently disintegrate or explode. Upon general principles we think that explosives have not been purposely dropped, but that parts have been racked off, and have fallen, exploding like the things called “ball lightning.” Many have been objects of stone or metal with inscriptions upon them, for all we know, at present. In all instances, estimates of dimensions are valueless, but ratios of dimensions are more acceptable. A thing said to have been six feet long may have been six hundred feet long; but shape is not so subject to the illusions of distance.“

The interesting thing about this text and others like it, is it suggests that people have been observing unidentified flying objects even before mankind had mastered flight in 1903. Depictions and stories hinting toward celestial “gods” and “visitors” exist throughout human history. Are the sightings a continuation of a possibly human desire? A desire for a connection with the “supreme” or “divine”?

Or have there been events taking place on this planet, all around us, which the majority of us are utterly (and in some cases willfully) blind to?

Posted on by ᵀᴴᴱ ARGONAUT 1

TIME TRAVEL ᴀɴᴅ ᴛʜᴇ 2ɴᴅ ʟᴀᴡ ᴏғ THERMODYNAMICS

(Animation from GIPHY.com)

In some ways the birth of our universe could be compared to the lighting of a candle, the “Big Bang” was when it was first lit. With this now burning wick, entropy increases, the once stagnant unaltered order/state of the wick and candle’s pristine structure begins to diminish as time passes. So begins the gradual decline into total disorder. Total disorder being the incineration of the wick, the form of the candle being lost, and equilibrium is achieved. The energy (wherever it came from) has been transferred, converted, but for all intents and purposes, it is gone (a process is deemed ‘irreversible’ if dissipation occurs, which in most instances, it does). As the 2nd Law of Thermodynamics states, in all processes that occur (including spontaneous) the entropy at least in regards to thermodynamics, is irreversible.

So just as the flickering flame of the candle will at some stage burn out, so too, as theorized by some, could/will our universe reach its equilibrium and enter a phase known as “total heat death”. In this outcome of achieved equilibrium everything in the entire universe would be the same temperature. The height of entropy, total disorder, no transference of energy or structure. No rhyme or reason. Just stagnate remaining mass, moving unpredictably in an eternity of darkness.

Entropy is intrinsically linked with the Arrow of Time (in physics). Coined by the British astronomer Arthur Eddington. Eddington gave three factors regarding, the arrow of time:

⦿ It is vividly recognized by consciousness.

⦿ It is equally insisted on by our reasoning faculty, which tells us that a reversal of the arrow would render the external world nonsensical.

⦿ It makes no appearance in physical science except in the study of organization of a number of individuals.

These three factors pertaining to the arrow of time are extremely localized around human perception.

In a way, time going in one direction only → relies on the basis that nothing ever happens/happened after theoretical “total heat death”. Because if something did occur (which it is theorized to be nigh impossible), then we could readdress the definition of the direction of time. As the system of the universe is no longer irreversible. For instance, after total heat death, a gradual pooling of mass begins to occur. Taking billions and billions and billions (times infinity, why not) years, so much mass could be drawn together that a high-density and (and even less likely) high-temperature state is reached. In that scenario, could the “Big Bang” occur again? Could that be the process that occurs over and over and over? If that were possible, the process of our universe’s creation could be deemed reversible. Rendering time no longer linear, but cyclic and infinite.

Meaning time isn’t a straight arrow → pointing in one direction, but rather a circle ↻ that always returns to a structured state, a starting position. In a process larger than we could ever hope to imagine.

If that wasn’t as extremely far-fetched and hypothetically scientifically offensive for you to consider, then consider this, what if everything forms, exactly the same, every single time the universe goes through this cycle? (There are some that argue that there is no such thing as a truly random outcome of events. It merely appears that way to our understanding, as we cannot perceive what is going on at the most finite level.)

As it stands, our current time traveling abilities are extremely limited. We have access to such a tiny portion. At best, around 100 years. We’ve mastered travelling forward through time. We’re doing it right now. As your eyes trail over this text, the words previously read give an indication that you are progressively moving forward.

But consider this science-fiction scenario:

The adult son of two prominently known archeologists (by some extraordinary hypothetical means) manages to momentarily travel back in time, some 145 million years, for a total duration of 15 seconds. He travels to a region somewhere in North America, during the Cretaceous period. Where his brief appearance momentarily distracts a pack of deinonychus (the 100kg version of the 15kg velociraptor) from noticing a tenontosaurus in the distance, prey they would have otherwise eaten. Thus, eliminating the specific archeological dig site where his parents first met. Subsequently, either, eliminating himself from existence, creating an alternate reality. Or whatever other scenario someone might imagine.

One of the many problems with this hypothetical scenario is that small, minuscule detail skimmed over at the beginning. The act of travelling backwards in time. It’s virtually impossible to imagine a means by which anyone could travel backwards through a process while entropy is taking place.

Unless, a being was somehow capable of making itself entirely independent from the process (the universe reaching equilibrium). In which case, according to the theories suggested (total pseudo-science, if that wasn’t obvious already), the way to travel backward in time could be to actually go so far forward, that you catch the past as it occurs again for the first time, in one of the next formations of the universe.

Perhaps beings beyond our comprehensible universe have been aware of this cyclic order of things longer than we even have words to describe what we call “time”?

Could God himself be a being who discovered how to isolate himself from the process? Or perhaps his ability to escape the process is innate?

If extraterrestrial life does have an interest in our planet, could it be monitoring the formations of this universe each cycle? Comparing our status with last time and the time before that? Eternally making comparisons to previous visits. Maybe they require things that occur so rarely, they come to a specific point each cycle to gather a valuable resource.

These theories are just a handful of many theories that are more than likely, all completely wrong (like most theories). But, it’s still intriguing (for some) to entertain the thought. Maybe we’ll never truly understand the mysteries of the universe, maybe next time around?

Posted on by ᵀᴴᴱ ARGONAUT 2