The Crop Circle Enigma Facts, Analysis, Hypotheses   Dr Eltjo H. Haselhoff 

Dutch version has appeared early March 1998 (Publisher: Ankh-Hermes, Deventer, Netherlands) An English Version is forthcoming A Synopsis of the book Crop Circles. Most people have heard about them. Many think that they are just simple circular imprints, occasionally found in crop fields, which could easily be made by men in ten minutes or so, with a plank or a garden roller.


The reality, however, is different. Since the late seventies, when the phenomenon started to manifest itself significantly in the South of England, about five thousand formations have been reported. And not just in England and the rest of Europe, but world wide, including America, Canada, China, India, Japan and Australia. Moreover, not just circles have appeared, but also much more complicated patterns, with cross sections of hundreds of meters. And they have not appeared in crop fields only, but in almost every type of vegetation one can think of, as well as in sand, ice and snow. Many people do not know, that also in the Netherlands many hundreds of formations have been found during the last few years (England is in fact the only country where more formations are found). The crop circles seem to be surrounded by many peculiar events, from malfunctioning of electronic equipment to spontaneous healings. Sceptics dismiss of these stories as being just the result of a vivid imagination, while others are convinced that the crop circles are signs of Mother Earth, or the work of Aliens, preparing for a come-back to Earth.

In this most legible, popular-scientific book, the crop circle phenomenon is discussed extensively and systematically. It contains an historical overview of crop circles in England and in the Netherlands, and many dozens of diagrams and colour photographs. It discusses the findings of scientists, over the years, like the biophysical anomalies that are found in the plants, sense and non-sense about indications of genuinely, as well as secondary aspects, like reactions of people, the role of the media, and crop circle hoaxers. Both findings of 'crop circle experts' as well as statements of sceptics are critically analysed.

The extensive analysis reveals that the crop circle phenomenon cannot be as simply explained as many people think, and that apparently something very strange is going on... NOTE: All books promoted through the Crop Circle Connector will have a personalised signature by the Author! A SIGNED copy of the book (in Dutch) may be obtained directly from the author, through the Crop Circle Connector. Send your address and a HFL 40,- Eurocheque (35,- + 5,- shipping and handling), payable to E.H. Haselhoff, to The Crop Circle Connector p/a E.H. Haselhoff Oude Sultan 1 5629 KV Eindhoven The Netherlands Allow ~ 1 week for delivery in the Netherlands.


The Synopsis of the book HET RAADSEL VAN DE GRAANCIRKELS FEITEN, ANALYSEN, HYPOTHESEN (The Crop Circle Enigma - Facts, Analyses, Hypotheses) In Dutch (English translation in preparation). Paperback, 194 pages, 44 colour photographs, many dozens of shadow diagrams, figures and graphs.

This is a popular-scientific book about the crop circle phenomenon. It has been written in a mild style, with simple words and sometimes a little humouristic, meant for the general public. Nevertheless, the book has a very systematic set-up, contains a sound analysis of facts, as well as scientifically solid reasoning (revealing the scientific background of the author). It consequently distinguishes itself clearly from most of the other works on this subject.

SUMMARY

Chapter 1 - Introduction

In this chapter the author tells how he became interested in the crop circle phenomenon. The first bits and pieces of information the author obtained (hardly available then) are discussed. A first, simple analysis strongly suggests that crop circles are not a hoax!

Chapter 2 - Crop Circles in England

This chapter gives a historical overview (with many diagrams and photographs) of crop circles in England, from the very first ones in the seventeenth century, to more recent appearances in the period 1976-1997. Some explanations of fractal theory are given. One section is dedicated to the impressive ‘Julia fractal’ near Stonehenge in 1996, and reveals interesting facts from a mathematical analysis!

Chapter 3 - Crop Circle Psychology

This chapter deal with reactions of people on the crop circle phenomenon. Three basic types of persons are defined: the believer, the doubter, and the denier. The keep it simple dogma is discussed, as well as the extraterrestrial hypothesis. The value of the scientific attitude, phrased by: I only believe things when there is sufficient proof is analysed in detail.

Chapter 4 - (Bio)physical Experiments

This chapter introduces the BLT research team, and the methods and findings of Dr William C. Levengood. It explains the methodology (including statistic relevance and plant sampling techniques) of node length measurements, germination experiments and redox tests and shows several experimental results. One section deals quite extensively with the criticism that has appeared, over the years, on Levengood’s work. This analysis reveals surprising facts!

Chapter 5 - Crop Circles in the Netherlands

An historical overview (1986-1997) of the world's second-best crop circle country is given, and several very peculiar events are described, e.g. the finding of strange white powder deposits (with chemical analysis and microscope images), a bizarre formation in a desolate carrot field, pictograms in snow and much more!

Chapter 6 - Indications of Genuinity

This chapter deals extensively with the sense and non-sense of genuinity marks in crop circles, like ‘bent but not broken stems’, footprints, damaged crop, swollen and bent nodes, multifold geometry, burn marks and much more. A 'must-read' for the beginning - and more experienced - crop circle researcher!

Chapter 7 - Crop Circles and the Media

This chapter discusses the behaviour of the media when it comes to reports about crop circles. It explains the frustrations which develop when mysteries can not be solved soon enough. Several examples of non-objective, prejudiced and even unjust reporting (all personally experienced by the author) are given.

Chapter 8 - Hoaxers

This chapter discusses crop circle hoaxers, and not just Doug Bower and David Chorley. Although hoaxers are often thought of as rational jokers who have pulled the legs of the naive and close-minded crop circle researchers for over twenty years, it is revealed that this image is not at all correct. Solid facts and mathematical analyses are used to show how some hoaxers do not know as much as they pretend!

Chapter 9 - At the Edge of Reality

This chapter presents a list of recent ‘ghost stories’, strange events in and around the crop circles, all out of first hand or personally experienced by the author. Animals in panic, failing photo cameras and video equipment, UFO’s and balls of light, anomalous black dots on infrared and normal photographs - it's all here!

Chapter 10 - Hypotheses

It is concluded that the statement all crop circles are simply human hoaxes is premature and leaves too many questions unanswered. The most popular alternative hypotheses are briefly discussed. A phenomenological scenario is presented, which tries to link the common denominators of all the known and reliable facts.

The book ends with: ‘For all of you who have never seen a real crop circle: whenever you have the chance, go for it. It is well worth the visit. But do remember: ask for the farmer’s permission, and STAY IN THE TRAMLINES (so that I can still make a nice aerial photograph).
 

About the author...

Eltjo Haselhoff was born in the Netherlands, in 1962. After finishing Grammar School in 1981, he started his study of experimental physics at the University of Twente, where he obtained his M. Sc. Degree in 1987, specialised in high power laser physics. Five years later, after working at several Dutch research institutes and one year at Los Alamos National Laboratories, USA, he obtained his Ph.D. in physics, specialised in free-electron lasers and high current electron beam accelerators.

Since many years, he spends a considerable part of his spare time in Dutch and foreign crop fields. When he is not thinking about crop circles, he spends time with his family, composes music, builds guitars and five-string banjo’s or draws cartoons.


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