John James Audubon was an odious man — slave holder, white-supremacist, and killer of the birds he loved so much. Yet he did advance the natural sciences with his scientific and artistic contributions, not to mention humoring a particularly modern conceit: that animals have their own minds. Souls for those so inclined. Performing her daily due diligence, Maria Popova's research has borne fruit yet again by illustrating the points in Audubon's own words for consideration. (CS)

Make some noise right now for the voices in your head because they're probably the only thing keeping you sane. But what about when those voices become tangible, manifesting in texts, calls, and trickery only written about by John LeCarre? Is there a conspiracy? An immune response stemming from years of emotional neglect? Maybe, and keep an open mind, they really exist. Targeted Individuals might be considered crazy, but why would they seek treatment and succor from such harassment? And why would well-meaning therapists and goose-stepping, twelve-stepping teatotalitarianists only make things worse? Justin Garson has some provocative hypotheses to consider. Defying the aphorism 'there are none so blind as those who will not see', Christopher Plain exhorts everyone Don't Let Your Ears Deceive You. Competition Challenges To Make Illusions For The Blind. (record scratch) Say what?! The Auditory Magic Challenge is challenging illusionists to create illusions for the ear and, based on the press release, this is a remarkable competition. Meanwhile from their respective academic ivory towers, a clutch of eggheads have stumbled upon a Scientific Discovery That Turns Mouse Skin Transparent echoing the plot of H.G. Wells's 'The Invisible Man'. The remarkable bit of this discovery is they're using FD&C Yellow No. 5 to perform the impossible according to Katie Hunt. (CS)

Either this relic is the most holy relic of Christendom or the most enduring hoax of history, and Eric Vanden Eykel wants you to know why this remains evergreen. Originally debunked in the 14th century(!), the shroud has demonstrated how faith superecedes science. Even contemporary science like carbon-14 dating. Does it matter if the shroud is real, or does it matter that it's real to the faithful? Something to contemplate this Sunday morning that's more interesting than going to mass. (CS)

It's not the global housing crisis nor the persistent inflation haunting the American economy, but you-know-who. Tony Milligan investigates the psychology behind belief in extraterrestrials, tipping his fedora a few times, and throwing a few knowing glances towards those engaged in conspiracies involving the 'elites'. It behooves you to give Tony some of your valuable time between video games and gooning for a broader understanding of this unique phenomenon and what it illustrates about society. While Mr. Milligan beats the dead horse of "nobody's discovered aliens yet," that's not stopping the Murchison Widefield Array! Haven't you heard? SETI Searches For Alien Life in Over 1,000 Galaxies Using Unexplored Radio Frequencies. Raise a glass, and cross your fingers, for Tremblay and Tingay who are doing the Lord's Work. (CS)

There are two types of skeptics in the world: those who dismiss anything out-of-hand because they're enlightened by their own intelligence and those who debunk to reduce the ratio of noise to signal when they investigate high strangeness. Kyle MacNeill has spoken to the latter, with interests ranging from saucers to Sasquatch to spooks, and presents a full portrait of them and their work rather than an unnecessary hit job. If you want an idea what ghost hunting is like, and it's nothing like Ed and Lorraine Warren, then look no further than Blake I. Collier's latest installment at The Observer who documents past investigations, along with humanity's approach to the singularity, making ghost hunters change equipment like their underpants. If that's not queer enough, Blake presents a philosophical conundrum worth your rumination. (CS)

The Wilson-Davis Memo controversy got new life with Lue Elizondo's new book Imminent and now Eric Davis admitting he did write the "Wilson-Davis Memo" after meeting with now-retired Vice Admiral Thomas Wilson. Billy Cox reiterates his dogged work on getting to the bottom of the controversy and new developments within it. He also rather predicts how the new AARO head might react to this development. Writing on the broader UFO subject is Micah Hanks' focus in the podcast Arrival of the Saucers. Hanks and Dr. Greg Eghigian discuss Greg's After the Flying Saucers Came: A Global History of the UFO Phenomenon. Greg effectively defends his choice of the post-World-War-II period as his focus and argues that the Second World War played a seminal role in leading to distrust of government. Other post-war events played greater roles than did UFOs in fanning that concern. Eghigian and Hanks stress the key role Donald Keyhoe played in developing the "ET reality" idea behind UFOs. (See also the only major study of Keyhoe and his place in UFO history, Linda Powell's Against the Odds: Major Donald E. Keyhoe and His Battle to End UFO Secrecy., published by Anomalist Books. The Hanks/Eghigian dialogue supports consideration of Greg's book as an important contribution to understanding the overall UFO/human relationship. (WM)

A video out of Mexico is getting some attention recently. It appears to show an orb floating across a field which then seemingly transforms into a small group of children. Make up your own mind about what's really going on in the video but if that "orb" isn't a flashlight we'll eat our hats. Next let's take a look at the Official Grand Tower: UFOs and Other High Strangeness Trailer. Researcher Michael Huntington investigates the high strangeness in Grand Tower, a tiny city of about 500 in Illinois where the inexplicable and anomalous are just part of a regular day. UFOs and unidentified hairy hominids are only the beginning. (Can you say Portal?) Sounds like the perfect place to live. (CM)

Sightings very old, very recent, and one rather in-between. Film reputedly from World War II is touted by a viewer as containing two UFOs within the aerial battle footage. The person reporting this to the National UFO Reporting Center describes what they think is going on, but we'll hope photo analysts will scrutinize this interesting if also rather grisly historical record. Tim Binnall brings us to the present as a Pilot Films Puzzling UFOs Over Atlantic Ocean. In this case, Tim furnishes some opinions on the "anomalousness" of what's shown. And it's good to hear from John Keel site master Doug Skinner: John's investigation produced Erie, Pa. Sightings--July-Aug. 1966--Summary (1). No visuals here, but this report is flat-out weird, creepy, and multifaceted. It almost impels readers to create their own movie of the proceedings. We'll "stay tuned" for what comes next. (WM)

Roswell isn't the only "iconic" old UFO crash tale capable of generating new controversy. Kevin Randle and fellow researcher David Rudiak find there were three claimed Kingman, Arizona, area flying saucer crashes/landings in early 1953, and possibly one three years earlier. And then things get really strange. Along the way, a very strong mass sighting event gets attention, and we see what's next to be done in unravelling a case that indeed seems to have gotten "stronger"—but towards what end? (WM)

It is with heavy hearts we announce the passing of Jerry D. Coleman, cyptozoologist, author and artist, outdoorsman, and accomplished guide. At various times Jerry worked as a paramedic, installed alarm systems, ran a trucking company, and worked as a youth counsellor. In the 1970s he became an investigator of "strange phenomena and bizarre events," traveling extensively to investigate the unexplained, and going on to write/contribute to numerous articles and books, and serve as a guest on several radio broadcasts. In his off time Jerry was also brother to Loren Coleman, founder and director of the International Cryptozoology Museum in Portland, Maine. We send Loren our deepest condolences. Losing a brother is losing a part of oneself. Rest in Peace, Jerry. (CM)

Bryan Sentes evaluates some takeaways from the SUAPS (Society for UAP Studies) yearly conference. He and participant Ted Peters rightly challenge the notion of necessary technological evolution through time, and Bryan also correctly extends the scope of uncertainty to "the more general, social, and 'spiritual' (geistig) implications" the questioning should include. "Consciousness" and "Mind" also come up for review, as does the Western interpretation of anomalous experiences worldwide throughout history. And his agreement with Dr. Greg Eghigian's comment "In this field, there are no authorities" resonates. Vicente-Juan Ballester Olmos announces his latest installment of the UFO Fotocat Blog. Ballester-Olmos notes responses his and collaborators' work have received, and links to critiques of the new Luis Elizondo book Imminent. Also included: a noteworthy case-catalogue-merging effort, a no-holds-barred attack upon ufological "fantasy-prone" thinking, and emphasis that "there is life beyond ufology." It's a skeptical European counterpoint to so much "popular" American ufology. Speaking of skeptics, here's Jason Colavito's Review of Ancient Aliens S20E18: "The Linda Moulton Howe Files". Those of us who haven't caught any of the previous Ancient Aliens episodes Jason says were repurposed here may want to see this one summarizing a decades-long career in at least that more popular ufological discussion. (WM)

Reminders that UFOs are not merely U.S. phenomena. Frank Chung's straightforward article about a fairly recent sighting and its context may be more interesting than the nighttime footage it contains. For some time the most impressive thing in the video seems to be what turns out to be a "dancing streetlight." But Chung and witness and MUFON Field Investigator Clark Watson supply good historical background, an explanation of MUFON's approach to evaluating reports, and some irritation the United States seems to corner the world's UFO focus. A Mysterious Green UFO & Orbs Spotted in India last month got the attention of multiple videographers. The "Hidden Underbelly 2.0" host notes that green seems a fave color in Chennai area UFOs of late. And Tim Binnall takes us to South America as Multiple Witnesses Film String of Multicolored Lights in Sky Over Colombian City. Various explanations are floated and videos presented of what looks like a "dressed-up" Starlink procession. (WM)

It's that wonderful time of year when school starts again and thoughts turn to the thinning veil as Halllowe'en approaches next month. At University of Virginia, there is little opportunity to forget that thinning veil as the campus and its buildings seem to be packed with stories, legends, and outright hauntings. It's frequently the sober university employees encountering the otherworldly entities so we can't blame campus parties for the strange goings on. Faculty housing, the library, the music hall—it seems no location is immune in spite of efforts by UVA directors to keep these stories quiet. History and its resultant hauntings evidently will not be silenced. (CM)

Some intriguing headlines for the mid-week. Tim McMillan reports a chance discovery that indicates progress in the U.S. development of "transmedium vehicles." And there may be more such advanced projects than just the rather odd yellow thing that almost got put on Craigslist. UFOs and archaeology nearly meshed in Switzerland about a week ago, per Newsweek Life's Soo Kim. Couple Thinks They Found a 'Head' in Riverbed, Then They Look Closer is a rather disconcerting title. The strange item's creation seems ascribed to students that lived in a community home, and much odder things have happened in collegiate frat houses. But how the artifact ended up where it did is still a mystery. And here's a chance to get personally involved in a weird domicile, as three New York Post writers take us Inside the Egyptian-themed NYC Compound That's Home to 'Extremist' UFO Cult -- and Could Be Yours for $6M. This is a fascinating and more-than-troubling story about the New York City remnants of a "new religious" movement, whose super-maximum-security-imprisoned founder synthesized a remarkable number of religious, scientific, historical—and yes, "out of this world" themes. The result was a religion largely regarded as a racist "hate group," although the current Big Apple outpost got generally positive reviews in the article. (WM)

For those of us, including tapped-in journalists, who may hope for a more-or-less "Imminent" transparency trend in the All-domain Anomaly Resolution Office with the new permanent Director, Kevin Randle provides "A Different Perspective." And it's pretty bleak, and bolstered by the long and tragic history of governmental UFO deception. For the best study of that pre-2017 period that Kevin references, we continue to recommend UFOs and Government: A Historical Inquiry by Michael Swords, Robert Powell, et al., published by Anomalist Books. What's at stake in this possible large-scale secrecy is thrown into stark relief in a Scientific Coalition for UAP Studies broadcast covered in Notes/ Dr. Garry Nolan, UFO Technology, If Real, Could "Reinvigorate US Military Or Even Scientific Research." In the first of hopefully a series of "Notes" articles, Baptiste Friscourt excerpts from a new and promising SCU project and includes the entire episode in which Nolan and Michael Glawson assess the ramifications of the claimed "cover-up" for stultifying knowledge and even technological progress. And finishing with Friscourt's Sentinel News service, the "3AF SIGMA2 Technical Committee" offers some Recent News on 'Unidentified Aerospace Phenomena'. This passel of researchers presents a European-based and biting critique of US governmental proclamations, and summarizes what they've been doing on some "iconic" older cases and are and will be working on to improve data collection and interpretation. (WM)

There was some strangeness out of China last week, so grab your sense of wonder and let's take a look. First there was a rather odd cloud formation that looked a little like a figure was gliding across it in the sky. Very cool, perhaps even anomalous. Weather phenomena can be wild. Then there was an Incredible Sight as Seven Suns Mysteriously Appear Over China. Photographed from a hospital bed, it seems likely the window glass caused the beautiful optical illusion. The perfect timing alone makes it quite strange and wondrous. (CM)

Another ufological lion is gone. Ryan Wood announces the passing of his father, Robert M. Wood, at the age of 96. A truly remarkable person, "Dr. Bob" had an amazing professional career, was a prominent force in and contributor to the ufological world during six decades, and was similarly active in his local community, as Ryan so justly notes. I recall meeting Robert Wood while lunching with Anomalist Editor Patrick Huyghe at a Society for Scientific Exploration conference in Colorado. I was strongly struck by the quiet and calm humanity this man displayed. That brief encounter left a solid impression that the so-often highly contentious world of UFO studies can bring people together in what is at least a commonly-held search for truth. (WM)

It's hard to think of a commentator better grounded in both the "real" world and UFOs for as long as Billy Cox. And Billy's review of Luis Elizondo's new book, like the book Imminent itself, pulls no punches. Billy's summary of the book's hardest-hitting points has a strong conclusion and is an excellent "promo" for the autobiographical testimonial. Sentinel News' Baptiste Friscourt excerpts from a recent Coast to Coast interview with Notes/Lue Elizondo: "There's an Existing Relationship There to Feed Misinformation to the American Public". Friscourt also interlaces Elizondo's statements with his own observations, and identifies the claimed obstructing individuals involved. He links to his main sources, trebling the effectiveness of the blows. NewsNation's Steph Whiteside and Ross Coulthart end this round with a snippet from the latter's now-famous TV interview with Elizondo in Where Are UFOs Coming From? Perhaps these hard-hitting volleys will weaken resistance to considering Elizondo's "knockout punch" proposition. (WM)

The legends of the Little People are alive and well in the lands of Gaelic background, so much so they might be considered "mascots" of their areas. But that's not to say they aren't real or simply beings of a bygone era, as observations and testimonies continue to be made regarding their reality and activities. Next we have a review of what might best be described as Supernaturally Social, the newly released Exeter Companion To Fairies, Nereids, Trolls And Other Social Supernatural Beings. It seems that Europeans have believed in a parallel realm for centuries wherein supernatural beings lived out their lives alongside ours. This book describes the ways in which it is understood these beings have interacted with humankind, with both helpful actions and intentional misdeeds, with abundant or failed crops, and even control of the weather. Folklorists, general readers, and a great many others will find this book an interesting resource. (CM)