BLT Research Team Inc. P.O. Box 400127 Cambridge, MA 02140 (USA) ph: 617/492-0415

LAB REPORT #79

CROP FORMATION:
LOGAN, UTAH - August, 1996

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Formed early in August in barley, this was the first crop formation found in Utah in recent times. Overall length approximately 190 ft., large circle 58 ft.-diameter, smaller circle 30-ft. diameter. Crop lay was more radial than spiral. Small triangular holes were found in the centers of both circles and at end of long path heading South.
Light phenomena were observed & photographed (Addendum).
Top photo: Mitch Mascaro, The Herald Journal; bottom photo: Con Olsen.

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BLT Research Team Inc. P.O. Box 400127 Cambridge, MA 02140 (USA) ph: 617/492-0415

LAB REPORT #79 March 16, 1997 Pinelandia Biophysical Lab

Relevant Findings:

1. Node expansion levels were found in the range of 15-65%,
   relative to the controls;
   
   
2. Expulsion cavity incidence found to be as high as 40%;
   none found in the controls;
   
   
3. Seed weights and seedling growth were reduced
   in plants along north radius of large circle;
   
   
4. Altered soil structure indicated by X-ray crystallography;
   
   
5. Soil alteration simulated by exposing control soil to microwaves.
   
   

Discussion of Results:

When examining the summarized node-length data it should be kept in mind that any set of samples that has a mean node-length change greater than 15% (relative to the "normal" control plants) is statistically significant. When data is statistically significant one can be confident that there is a greater than 95% probability that the data are anomalous, relative to the control samples. [This level of significance is accepted in scientific research and in all scientific journals as being meaningful.]

Figure 2 shows node-length (Nl) data from plants sampled along the north and south radii in the large, 58'-diameter circle. The fact that the curves produced by the data are similar in shape, but not the same, indicates that the energy profiles which caused the node-length changes were similar along the radii, but that the magnitudes of energy delivery were quite different. This was also apparent when we examined the plant nodes for the presence of expulsion cavities.

From past studies we know that a very rapid rate of heating will cause the plant stem nodes to literally blow open to form what we have termed "expulsion cavities" (see Fig. 4), an effect which is apparently unique in crop formation plants (they are rarely found in control plants). Expulsion cavities are more likely to be found in mature plants which have less elasticity in their fibrous epidermis, than in younger, less-developed plants.

When plant nodes are subjected to the heating element of the crop formation energy system the moisture inside the plant node turns to steam and internal pressure builds up; if this occurs at a rapid rate the node tissues rupture and the pressure is relieved through the formation of an expulsion cavity. When expulsion cavities are present (usually in the penultimate or second node beneath the seed-head), node elongation (usually in the apical, or first node beneath the seed-head) is likely to be less. This occurs because, in plants in which the pressure builds up to just below the critical value for rupturing the expanded node tissue, the expansion continues and no expulsion cavities form.

If we examine all the north radius node-length data from the large circle we find (see Table 1) that the overall node expansion is high, whereas the expulsion cavity level (the "safety-valve" effect) is relatively low. On the other hand, the south radius data show the opposite situation: that is, a low node expansion and a high number of expulsion cavities. This implies that the rate of energy transfer was more rapid along the south radius than along the north. In other words, the rotation rate of the energy vortex was such that the energy was not distributed uniformly throughout the large circle.

We also found similar patterns of node-length changes and expulsion cavity distribution
(Fig. 3) in the plants taken from within the small circle. In the Table 2 data we again see a tendency for the high/low, low/high relationship between node elongation and expulsion cavity distributions along the radii. Here, however, the north radius appears to have been subjected to the higher rate of energy input, again resulting in an increased number of expulsion cavities. This result simply means that the organized plasmas operating within these two circle regions were functioning in an independent manner.

In the past we have received anecdotal reports of visual changes in the soils within crop circles; however, the Logan study if the first instance in which we have been able to work directly with a professional geologist (Ms. Diane Conrad, President, Meridian Environmental Co., Salt Lake City, Utah). For details of Ms. Conrad's investigation, see item #3 in "Details of Findings," below.

The plant node data indicate a localized, transient heating of the plants. The level of this external energy input was sufficient to produce significant node elongation, expulsion cavities, alterations in seed weights and seedling growth. These results are consistent with the concept of organized plasma vortices operating within dissipative, chaotic structures as the causative agency of crop formations.

Since the energy influenced both the somatic and germinal tissues of the plants, this formation must have occurred during a critical interval in the development cycle of the crop.


Details of Findings:

When received at the laboratory the individual plant stems were so broken up that it was necessary to combine the apical and penultimate node measurements within each of the 37 sample sets. When we could not tell where on the plant stem a node came from it was discarded and not included in the analyses.

From the field-sampling diagram (Fig. 1) it can be seen that there are three separate sections (or sampled areas) of importance within this formation, namely the larger 58 ft.-diameter circle, the smaller 30.4 ft.-diameter circle, and the approximately 80 ft.-long pathways extending north and south of the larger circle. Accordingly, each will be discussed and the results compared. (Click on diagram below to enlarge.)

Fig. 1:   Field-sampling diagram [KS-03-131]