Since the 1970s Russia has been linked to the subject of weaponized mind control. Whether it was ever a real threat, or the end result of disinformation by the KGB, it's not altogether surprising that worries over Havana Syndrome and "pulsed microwave energy" take up so much space in our imaginations. Also on the topic of the mind's power, Legendary Parapsychologist Russell Targ Celebrates 90 Years of Work in Remote Viewing, ESP, and Consciousness Research, in a new book written by Jeffrey Mishlove. Targ is a significant contributor to research on ESP and consciousness, and was a cofounder of the Remote Viewing program at Stanford Research Institute. Russell Targ: Ninety Years of Remote Viewing, ESP, and Timeless Awareness is a compilation of 15 conversations between Mishlove and Targ on topics such as military remote viewing, precognitive dreaming, and after death communication. (CM)

Rob McConnell interviews the long-time investigator about his general approach to UFOs and opinions regarding specific basic questions on the subject and particularly current issues. Topics include: how Kevin Randle got involved in the subject and in the '90s his UFO fascination and writing talents really "took off" together; why Roswell’s not been resolved; and the contrast between Kevin’s and other qualified ufologists with David Grusch's information sourcing. With Rob McConnell Interviews - Lt. Col. Kevin Randle, Ph.D. (Ret.) - The Latest AARO Report Kevin and Rob discuss why that long-named "Report” is just "deja vu all over again." It echoes the 1953 Robertson Panel and 1969 "Condon Report" and, indeed, the public military posture about UFO significance since Roswell. Kevin notes how "The Deep State" of unelected, lifetime bureaucrats; the traditional stigma against reporting; and government failures over the years to investigate fully the really solid reports have brought us no further towards understanding what's going on. While there's hope in Citizen Science efforts, Kevin doesn't think we're any nearer to "Disclosure" in any really final sense of the term. For more see Kevin Randle's memoir: Reflections of a UFO Investigator, published by Anomalist Books. (WM)

Two proponents of wildly-opposed archaeological thinking get Jason Colavito's attention here. Jason has not watched the whole over 4-hour exchange, but he thinks he's pulled out enough to get the tenor of the proceedings and declare a winner of sorts. Jason does include the whole conversation for those having the time and energy to check his points, which seem in line with the usual anti-Hancock arguments. The exponent of the Traditional Archaeological Stance himself explains Why I Talked to Pseudoarchaeologist Graham Hancock on Joe Rogan. Flint Dibble does make a good case for rigorous and practicing archaeologists to "stop just talking among ourselves or to audiences of like-minded people"—something also needed in the field of ufology. Dibble details his debating strategy and figures, win or lose in one skirmish, he just may contribute to a wider and better understanding of the human past. (WM)

John Greenewald explains his search to learn the precise involvement of AATIP's most prominent participant. John says: "the Department of Defense (DoD), throughout 2018 and 2019, changed their story multiple times on whether or not AATIP had studied UFOs, and whether Luis Elizondo, the man who claimed to have run it, actually did." But the availability and very authenticity of some important records bearing upon this matter are even murkier. Jason Colavito reports Chris Mellon Releases Texts from Government Official Claiming a Crashed UFO. This matter indeed is being discussed in UFO circles, sentiment favoring the Kingman (not "Klingman"), Arizona crashed saucer as a hoax—and not a very good one. But what if something seemingly significant was just a "slip of the tongue"? Tom Norton's What Is Project Aqua? UFO 'Leak' Touted on Joe Rogan Podcast covers the excitement created by a likely Tucker Carlson blunder. But Carlson seems correct about watery dangers, as A 'World-Changing' Underwater UFO-Caught on Video Is a Legit Threat, Says Ex-Navy Officer. "This is no joke." subtitles Kyle Mizokami, about retired Rear Admiral and Chief Naval Oceanographer Timothy Gallaudet's concerns about USOs as well as UFOs. Gallaudet touts the USS Omaha "transmedium splash down" video of July 19, 2019. Didn't former AARO head Sean Kirkpatrick intimate at the May 2023 NASA Study Team's televised first deliberations that it was "actually a sensor anomaly," as would soon be explained? (WM)

It starts this Friday! The International Cryptozoology Conference of 2024 takes place April 26th and 27th at the Clarion Airport Hotel in Portland, Maine, and features speakers such as David Goudsward, author of Sun, Sand, and Sea Serpents and Loren Coleman on the cryptids of Skinwalker Ranch. The event is a fundraiser for the "non-profit scientific and educational mission of the International Cryptozoology Museum (ICM)." Meanwhile, in Keystone, South Dakota, you'll find the World's Largest Bigfoot, a wooden chainsaw carving 23 feet tall, holding a 54 foot long flagpole. This Bigfoot statue is deceptively chill as he lounges on the street and lures tourists to the town, but don't be fooled. If it was erected to standing, it would also be 54 feet high. (CM)

Well, seems that UFOs have finally "made it,, as they've now appeared on comedian/commentator John Oliver's HBO TV show. More pointedly, it's the US Government's handling of the UFO problem that gets most of Oliver's sharp and sometimes "salty" tongue-lashing. Sean L. McCarthy reports. One person not laughing is Jason Colavito, who maintains that John Oliver Abandons Evidence to Promote the UFO "Mystery". His hyperbolic skepticism makes it seem the twenty-minute segment that took over a year to produce rivals in ineptitude the sophomoric effort behind the recent AARO "Report Volume I" (though Jason likely wouldn't put it that way!). Miguel "Red Pill Junkie" Romero has another point of view in John Oliver Talks About UFOs on HBO's Last Week Tonight. "RPJ" sees much more value in the Oliver performance, which you can see for yourself at US CityNews. (WM)

That AARO briefing to the House UAP Caucus last week didn't satisfy its strongest-minded member. In fact, Tim Burchett is probably as sure as ever about the cover-up of "ultra-high-tech craft of foreign or even extraterrestrial origin." And his points about "financial and technological gains" and "just plain arrogance" bear consideration. Along these informational lines, defense analyst Marik Von Rennenkampff asks Drones or UFOs? Alarming Incursions Demand Answers. Von Rennenkampff's numerous specific examples of "the glaring national security vulnerabilities" in recent years—and back in 1965!—do require response. Keith Basterfield chronicles some of what we know has been done to unwrap the puzzle in AARO 202302024 - A Chronology. Not only does Keith provide the "Whens" and "Whats, like Marik von Rennenkampff he has numerous linked references to his supporting material—a real bonus. Keith here mentioned AARO collaboration with the "Five Eyes"—another one of which gets his attention in The Australian Space Agency and UAP. Doesn't sound like the Aussies were of much help. (WM)

Roland Watson looks back over claims that the Loch Ness Monster was actually a long-neck sea turtle. As early as 1895, there were artist depictions of plesiosaurs with shells in their back. However we don't know if these were renditions of the sea turtle, or a fringe theory of the plesiosaur. Next, was this a Panther Filmed Crossing Field in England? A motorist captured the footage while parked and filming  his classic car. He turned the footage over to an expert, who agreed the animal may well have been a big cat. (CM)

It's truly welcome to see that Kevin is back after a series of huge crises in his life, and he lets us know what he's been doing during that difficult time. Kevin talks iconic UFO cases, crashes that may or may not have been, and the testimony of David Grusch. Kevin's careful to distinguish between the person and the second-hand claims he's making, many of which he doesn't find credible. He also mentions Dr. Michael Swords, who with Robert Powell edited UFOs and Government: A Historical Inquiry (Anomalist Books). Coincidentally, we'll next discuss A Different Perspective with Kevin Randle - Robert Powell. Robert's just written another UFO-related book called UFOs: A Scientist Explains What We Know (And Don't Know, sort of an average adult complement to his 2020 The Truth About UFOs: A Scientific Perspective, recommended for the 7-11 age group. Robert's two main conclusions from 17 years of intensive study: UFOs are physical objects and intelligently controlled by a source much more advanced than we are. Robert's book—and our conversants here—begin with the problem of the term "UFO" and why Robert starts his book before the 1947 Kenneth Arnold sighting, then moves to the other matters Robert's pondered over his years of experience. (WM)

Strange headlines to start the work week. Cecilia Adamou explains an uber-weird sight and site discovered in June 2011, with a prosaic but really intriguing diagnosis. We're surprised by speculation about "the lost underwater city of Atlanta, a rouge member of an alien UFO fleet." This reader was last in Atlanta more than ten years ago, but he'd have heard had it sunk, and he doesn't remember it being particularly red! Staying aqueous, Tim Binnall comments on an Eerie Glowing USO Spotted by Research Vessel in Gulf of Mexico. Our first guess would be a light from elsewhere or even the moon. But upon reflection—if the back story's true—we may be out of our depth here. Now a much "hotter" case of a kind we've noted before. Aiya Zhussupova wants us to Watch Bizarre Moment Glowing UFO 'Flies into Active Volcano' That Researcher Claims is a 'Wormhole' for Alien Spacecraft. We think the "self-proclaimed expert"'s assertion here is an inflammatory and boisterous case of "magma cum loud." And Anita Markoff has an UFO-Verload: I Was Violated by Aliens Who Stole My Sperm to Breed a Human Hybrid, Insists Man on Netflix's Files of the Unexplained. This is said to be "a darker side to the story that did not make it into the Netflix series" episode on the 1973 Hickson-Parker Pascagoula, Mississippi, UFO abduction. (WM)

Henry Bauer, an emeritus professor of chemistry and science studies at Virginia Tech, points out the difference between pseudo skeptics and skeptics. It's notable that the pseudo skeptics often act as the debunkers, and represent the thinkers of the two sides. (Watch for the shout out to Roland Watson in a brief narrative regarding whether a loch ness monster really exists.) And, as Bauer points out, it's worth noting that Most of Us Are Wrong About Things We Firmly Believe. The history of science indicates that we tend to start out wrong and often become even more wrong before finding our way to the truth. That fact alone should soften the stance of even the most hardcore skeptic, whether debating Nessie's existence or if Bigfoot truly is the hide and seek champion of the world. (CM)

Gene Steinberg and co-host Tim Swartz welcome one of Gene's old friends, and Dr. Lawson is quite an interview. He's tied together seemingly every intriguing concept and datum imaginable in archaeology, history, genetics, quantum science, ancient religions, with Atlantis and "The Sleeping Prophet" Edgar Cayce. Dr. Lawson slides from one idea and term to another so quickly and with such conviction that the mind rather reels. One may challenge his saying Solon (died 560 B.C.E.) was Plato's (c. 427-348 B.C.E.) grandfather, and—having visited it several times—that the Great Pyramid, according to Lawson begun in c. 10,390 BCE, was so perfectly built. More sweeping claims about pyramid-building and all pharaohs being buried in the Valley of the Kings also surprise. But it's a highly-imaginative performance at the very least. (WM)

Who has the inside scoop on the latest toys in SETI's toolchest? Martin Griffiths does, and he enumerates the new projects and plans aimed at scanning our skies to detect space siblings. Not to mention as to why they're better than the old ones. By the way Here's How Scientists Might Detect Alien Life For The First Time In A Nearby Moon. Enceladus, in a human context, is hardly nearby but Fabian Klenner reckons how we may confirm we aren't alone after all. (CS)

Well it's not so much as a chat but more of a call-and-response. In this brief video, find out how cetacean biologists had a brief exchange with Twain the whale. After that video, Vishwam Sankaran has further details on those Scientists Claiming To Have Successfully 'Conversed' With a Whale. Now we wonder what exactly was said, and if there's an equivalent in a human language. No idea if they possess the je ne sais quois, but we know of a dictionary that might help find a word that's close enough. Maria Popova's been beside herself with The Dictionary Of Obscure Sorrows — A collection of uncommonly lovely invented words for what we feel but can not name. We here at The Anomalist acquired our own copies and agree upon the transformational power of words. After increasing our vocabulary, with such words like foreclearing, the world around us has taken on a stranger hue. In fact we reckon it'd happen to you if you gave John Koenig's book some of your attention. A little less wistful is Stephen Johnson at his most jaded when he outlines what people are getting wrong this week—Chemtrails. Rather than dismissing geoengineering theories, Stephen points out Tennesseee legislators are more concerned about contrails not chemtrails. There's some snark, but really we've read worse snark online. (CS)

Fifty years ago it was conventional wisdom few stars had planets. Today there are more than 5,000 confirmed exoplanets. That's confirmed with a capital empirical. Yet Bill Diamond insists to Leonard David there's no evidence. Full stop. Bill rationalizes with thought experiments and hypotheticals on 'motherships', but if knows nothing and there is nothing then why be so specific about nothing? For those of you anticipating greys or little green men, you might be out of luck. Taking a hint from Mr. Rogers, Stephanie Pappas points out Purple Bacterial Could Be Key To Finding Extraterrestrial Life On Exoplanets. Not all stars are bright and golden like ours, suggesting how other worlds might work differently. For example — photosynthesis and it's weirder than you can imagine. Even if we encounter aliens, Lori Dorn stumbled upon a nifty video from Kurzgesagt hypothesizing Why Possible Terraformed Alien Empires In The Milky Way Might End Up Like The Oceans Of Oceana. Oh it's much more than that, as Steve Taylor points out the absurdity of interstellar travel in light of humanity's notions from pulp media rather than dismissing it out-of-hand like Bill Diamond. It's a crackerjack video, Anomalist recommended, and what else are you going to watch this Saturday morning? (CS)

If you've been living under a rock, Rice University has maintained a special collection of supernatural experiences for the past ten years thanks to Jeffrey Kripal. Today Brandi Smith's tooting her alma mater's horn, and piquing our curiosity as to what weird wonders may still lurk in those archives. Check it out for yourself while you're at it. Despite Rice University having a close relationship with NASA for decades, their Archives Of The Impossible are still earthbound. Fortunately There's A Library On The Moon Now. It might last billions of years. Yet we reckon any aliens who stumble upon this artefact will be left wondering, "Did they believe in ghosts?" (CS)

The extraordinarily complicated yet important backstory to current UFO-related headlines takes yet another turn with John Greenewald's report on another successful Freedom of Information Act release. John provides a summary overview as well as the materials. In summary, Christopher Mellon comes off as an attempted honest broker, Sean Kirkpatrick as short and frustrated, and David Grusch's behavior as more mysterious. Perhaps Grusch or his lawyer will clarify in the days to come, and we'll watch for further analyses. More on the major moves comes from Joe Khalil, as Lawmakers Seek Answers in Classified AARO Briefing. Khalil explains the context behind this particular event and places low expectations on the details becoming public, but that there may soon be news of "a potential field hearing" by the House UAP Caucus. An organization calling itself "UAP/C" has just published a Congressional Briefing Packet: AARO Briefing on Historical Review and New Leadership. Note that the website "is not affiliated with, endorsed by, or representative of any official government entity, including the UAP Caucus within the House of Representatives." And the "briefing booklet" makes few bones about getting "full transparency," given necessary governmental secrecy obligations. But we'd sure like to get more information responsive to the twenty questions it proposes! (WM)

The first official Nessie sighting of 2024 has been reported, witnessed and photographed by a family from London on vacation. The photo shows something dark in the water and while that's terribly inconclusive, beggars can't be choosers and the official registry has declared it good enough. Meanwhile theBangor Cryptozoology Museum Opening Delayed. The historic building that will be the new home of the International Cryptozoology Museum needs about $500,000 in repairs. Owner/operator Lauren Coleman is looking into available grant monies and welcomes any donations from interested parties at GoFundMe. In the meantime, he's working on preparing the facility as funds allow. (CM)

Tanner F. Boyle reports upon an unfortunate first Mutual UFO Network conference experience. The cant of several presentations seems often strongly religious, political, and at one and the same time too conspiratorial and yet simplistic. Some of the details are frankly jaw-dropping. MUFON State and chapter events will vary in quality and their direction, and this reader, a former MUFON State Co-Director in the '90s, will note his pride in friendship and working with several such leading state organizations and some stellar officers to-date. But Tanner's chronicle of the parent organization's history and this example of its public "face" is devastating. We could name some choices for a second experience. (WM)