Replicating the Real Thing (UFO Photos)

There is a set of so-called UFO photos at www.billymeier.com produced by “contactee” Billy Meier in the mid-’70s. A Meier acolyte named Michael Horn has been after myself, Michael Shermer, and the Center for Inquiry West to replicate the Meier photographs and/or prove that the photographs were faked. It is important to note that any replication of those photos would mean little toward examining the claim, except to show that they can be replicated. If they are not properly replicated, it does not speak at all to the question of whether or not they’re faked photos.

I’m reminded of the circumstances surrounding my exact replication of the Geller “phenomena” at King’s College, UK, in July of 1975, back when many scientists were actually prepared to accept that a new paradigm had been introduced with their introduction to “spoon-bending.” The five prominent scientists who witnessed my requested demonstration—one of them a Nobel Laureate for the discovery of the structure of DNA, and another the editor of Nature—stated, in part, that I had 

… demonstrated in a laboratory his ability to bend and break spoons and keys that we supplied. He caused bursts on a Geiger counter and made one of our spoons become flexible and finally break in two while one of us held it at each end. Then Mr. Randi caused a compass needle to deflect by about 15° and caused several watches to advance. We were made well aware in advance that Mr. Randi appeared before us as a conjuror, and we watched him closely, knowing that he was doing tricks. We gave him no advantage that might be given to a “sensitive.” After the performance, he revealed to us how some of these tricks had been done. We believe that in investigating phenomena of apparently paranormal nature, a qualified conjuror must be closely involved. 

But, importantly, this demonstration—by itself—in no way proved anything about Geller’s performance except that it could be replicated by simple trickery!

Meier’s photographs do not establish the existence of UFOs because (a) they were unwitnessed, (b) we have no record of how many other photos he took, (c) no other record of detection of UFOs at that same time and place exists, and (d) we cannot know how skilled he may be in photography. And, perhaps most evidential of all, just why do you suppose that this otherwise obscure man was somehow able to be present at UFO sightings so often that he was able to snap over 1,200 photos of them? Seems incredibly fortuitous, don’t you think? As with so many other claims of supernatural, paranormal, or extraterrestrial effects, the onus of proof is on the claimants, not on the skeptics. The skeptics make no claim except that the claimants’ case is not proved. 

This demonstration—by itself—in no way proved anything about Geller’s performance except that it could be replicated by simple trickery!

Michael Horn, a martial arts practitioner who designates himself as the “Authorized American Media Representative for The Billy Meier Contacts,” runs on and on about all sorts of “proof” that he says he can provide. Witness the following excerpts from his latest heated post to me, beginning with mention of the Psychological Stress Evaluator (PSE), which Horn devoutly believes is far more efficient than the polygraph for proving obscure claims: 

Who said polygraphs, they were PSE tests, you fool, and I doubt that you could pass one if all they asked you was your real name. And you, windbag and poseur, are YOU a metallurgist, photographic expert, film expert, video expert, sound engineer? In your world the tree doesn’t make a sound when it’s in the forest unless you’re there to hear it. But then, with your credibility, who would believe you? 

The metal WAS shown to be other worldly [his emphasis] you devious, lying, self-inflated fraud! Perhaps not as other world as the bottom of the barrel, transparently dishonest, deceptive, and previously [sic] unknown to this planet variety of con artist that you nakedly expose yourself to be. No, fool, the game will be played this way. In addition to the already EXPERTLY studied, examined, and validated physical evidence, we are in possession of copyrighted documents and books that were published before the specific events predicted in them occurred. We have legal proof of the “paranormal” so, since you mistook the velvet glove for weakness, as most inwardly terrified, pathetic little bully boys like you do, you will be held to your word to pay up. 

Your value, your only relevance to the debate amounts to providing the full-blown, best poster-boy example of an unscientific, cultic, true believer posing as a “scientist” to contrast with those who’ve taken the time to research, test and discover the truth. And, rather than slink away because your 15 minutes in the spotlight have long since passed, I encourage you and your happy little band of clueless, inept bumblers to keep up the charade, even at the risk of people thinking we hired you to look stupid, unprofessional, unethical and disreputable, when in truth it’s your charitable donation to the cause. 

You, little fella, are one pathetic, feeble and completely out-of-your-league charlatan, which is why no reputable scientist, let alone any rational, thinking individual, would champion your silly nonsense for a second. 

Dry out before you do your parlor tricks for the kids … and have a nice day. 

My, my. For future reference, Michael, the tree is supposed to fall in the forest, because standing trees don’t make any noise. 

As with so many other claims of supernatural, paranormal, or extraterrestrial effects, the onus of proof is on the claimants, not on the skeptics.

The one item above that has taken my fancy, is the line, “The metal WAS shown to be other worldly.” Previously, he had written: “Metal alloy samples provided for analysis by Meier to Marcel Vogel, former IBM research chemist, holder of 32 patents; stated that, with any technology available to him as a scientist neither he nor another metallurgist friend who examined the metals, could put it together, could come close to duplicating or reproducing it.” I was so elated that I responded: 

Ah! Something we can actually examine! Where are these samples? Surely, if this statement is true, we have absolute, inarguable proof of other-worldly technology. By the way, I knew Vogel, and he was not very smart. And what does “holder of 32 patents” indicate? Anyone can get a patent, if they apply and pay the fees. My admittedly amateur search of the files of the U.S. Patent & Trademark Office didn’t come up with even one patent by your “expert” Vogel; are his “32 patents” in some other country? But I wander. Where is the metal? If it can be shown to be other-worldly, the JREF million-dollar prize will be awarded. I await that evidence. 

Now here, as I pointed out to him, we have something that can obviously, immediately, firmly, establish that Mr. Horn has a case to make. That’s prima facie material, Mr. Horn. Therefore, I ask you to simply produce that evidence for us, through whatever agency you choose, and the JREF will promptly pay you the million-dollar prize that we offer. 

Here are IBM research chemist Vogel’s interesting comments about “magic” quartz crystals: 

… pointing a crystal at another person, the crystal would amplify the person’s thoughts and emotions. This often also led to putting the individual into an altered state of consciousness … A crystal is an assemblage of molecules that form a unit cell, a consciousness, a soul. It takes your program and draws to itself the replication of its image. Take this crystal and program it with your mind. Charge it, get it oscillating, and program it with whatever you desire. You may call on the divine vibrations of love, peace, or joy to be instilled within it. Or use your flower essences, aromatherapy, or the like, for your programming. Remember, when utilizing the mineral and plant kingdoms, you are also implementing the corresponding evolutionary Kingdoms of the Solar and Planetary Logos to assist you in your healings. Simply hold the larger end in your dominant hand, with the tip pointing into your palm. Here the crystal will pick up the program and amplify the healing vibrations that pour forth from your palm chakra. Next send these energies effortlessly down through the crystal and out its bottom tip towards your client. The effects are extraordinary! 

The only reference I can locate on Vogel’s claimed 32 patents, is for one trademark reference #2,380,981, which only copyrights the name of these crystals that Vogel turned out! I leave it to you to decide on the value of his “extraordinary” opinions as applied to alien metals. 

As for duplicating the UFO photographs, Skeptic’s Art Director, Pat Linse, and several children generated UFO photographs that, in my opinion, are every bit as convincing as anything shot by Billy Meier. You can read her original story in Skeptic, volume 6 number 4.