In this month's edition of Physics World, Richard Taylor, director of the Materials Science Institute at the University of Oregon, takes a serious, objective look at a topic that critics might claim is beyond scientific understanding – crop circles.

As the global crop-circle phenomenon grows alongside advances in science and technology, Taylor notes how physics and the arts are coming together to produce more impressive and spectacular crop-circle patterns that still manage to maintain their mystery.

Today's crop-circle designs are more complex than ever, with some featuring up to 2000 different shapes. Mathematical analysis has revealed the use of constructions lines, invisible to the eye, that are used to design the patterns, although exactly how crop circles are created remains an open question.

According to Taylor, physics could potentially hold the answer, with crop-circle artists possibly using the Global Positioning System (GPS) as well as lasers and microwaves to create their patterns, dispensing with the rope, planks of wood and bar stools that have traditionally been used.

Microwaves, Taylor suggests, could be used to make crop stalks fall over and cool in a horizontal position – a technique that could explain the speed and efficiency of the artists and the incredible detail that some crop circles exhibit.

Indeed, one research team claims to be able to reproduce the intricate damage inflicted on crops using a handheld magnetron, readily available from microwave ovens, and a 12 V battery.

As Taylor writes, "Crop-circle artists are not going to give up their secrets easily. This summer, unknown artists will venture into the countryside close to your homes and carry out their craft, safe in the knowledge that they are continuing the legacy of the most science-oriented art movement in history."

Matin Durrani, Editor of Physics World, says, "It may seem odd for a physicist such as Taylor to be studying crop circles, but then he is merely trying to act like any good scientist – examining the evidence for the design and construction of crop circles without getting carried away by the side-show of UFOs, hoaxes and aliens."

Story and source: Physorg.com

Encounters of life in actuality are astounding. Some are first-rate and some are too ghastly that we often shudder by just committing them to memory. All eerie as well as eccentric incidents strive to instruct us something and all it depends on us how we exploit them either in a precise or in an off beam direction. Paranormal events can be positioned under the class of uncanny experiences of life. Every one of us has some sorts of paranormal happenings and no one can remain unscathed by them. Even those reading articles, story, books and watching movies on television or internet about the paranormal activities share the assemblage of paranoids. It is a human nature that while sitting in a very hushed room, the door slams by its own with a thud of bang he deduces that something paranormal has cropped up. A personage who has been unacquainted about the paranormal prevalence or who doesn't deem on such behaviours may take the slamming of door as an issue of a yarn. This episode may or may not be an element of paranormal phenomenon. Therefore, before accomplishing an apt finale one must comprehend the authentic source of such bustle that whether it has any scientific, natural or mystical corroboration. The inclusive and accurate exploration can escort us to a correct verdict and we can judge the condition.

The world of bizarre proceedings is encumbered with a numeral of such instances without which an unbeaten cram of paranormal actions is a grand collapse. Let us seek to disentangle the inscrutability of paranormal happenings by taking an illustration of shutting of a door in a room may be paranormal or some scientific instinct may be coupled with it. When a room inside a building is closed from draft or heat intrusion with no vent in the room and the window is also too far in such condition opening of the door of the room will generate vacuum and may also influence door of another room which will also come in motion and may get shut with a strident noise of a thump. Reversely pushing of door of a room with force may also impinge on another room and it may get closed with a sound. The opening and closing of the door of our room may also be due to the vacuum or pressure engendered by another person opening or closing the door of his room. To shun such condition and to be free from thinking some atypical there must be an appropriate opening inside the room. The opening and closing of the door may also be linked with an unfortunate door lock and a non-functional latch. Augmentation of temperature inside the room may also expand the gap between the door lock and the latch not to function suitably and it may open or close by its own.

Read more: Paranormal Commotion: Genuine or Theoretical?

Who built Stonehenge has long been the subject of debate among scholars.
But now the ancient site has offered up another conundrum - in the form of a giant crop circle.

This impressive 200ft design appeared within sight of the ancient monument yesterday.

And as ever the debate will rise as to who is responsible.

Some believe they are manmade, others that they are caused by earth's magnetic field. And there are a number who are convinced they are the work of extra-terrestrials

The ancient site is widely considered the most important prehistoric monument in Britain and is proving to be a hot spot for the phenomena this season.

Yesterday's design is just the latest in a spate of crop circles to have appeared in Wiltshire in the past few weeks.
Online enthusiast Eliakis Joseph-Sophia attempted to offer some explanation, believing the that the 'three half moons in the crop and that could indicate plans due to budgets in the third quarter.
'The crop is the other side of the road from Stonehenge. So clearly, the people involved in this crop cannot reach the sacred stones.'

The mystery of how crop circles are created has never been solved although they are widely considered to be an elaborate hoax.
Cynics have claimed the patterns are the work of computer scientists using teams of volunteers.
However crop circle enthusiasts argue there are not enough hours of darkness in summer to allow them to be completed by humans.
Many people believe the patterns are a message from extra-terrestrial lifeforms or even God.
Another theory is that colossal energy is amassed above the earth in the ionosphere and then zapped towards the ground where it creates the crop circle usually on chalky ground in areas traditionally known for their 'energy lines' and mystical past.

Story and source: Daily Mail

The document shows the best way to kill those bothersome reanimated corpses. It outlines a four-stage alert system following an invasion and says codewords will be used to provide secret instructions to the public.

The brief also includes details of how people can equip themselves with weapons, such as stun guns and protective suits.

Bristol city council has set out the advice in response to a Freedom of Information request.

In its ‘Contingency Plan For Handling Zombie Outbreaks in Bristol’, it says the moment to get really worried is when infections hit 30 per cent – or ‘zombie pandemic level’.

This is when you’ll need to kill a zombie correctly, and the public is reminded to fully disconnect the brain-stem from the body through blunt force or full head removal.

But it might be best just to head for a council building, where somebody might know what to do.

‘An annual training schedule for designated officers is in place,’ the document adds reassuringly.

Story and source: Metro