Curso:
C1 Advanced
LESSON 29: THE UNEXPLAINED MYSTERY OF CROP CIRCLES PART 2
Lesson 29: The Unexplained Mystery Continues
DISCUSSION: What do you remember from yesterday’s reading?
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According to National Geographic, crop circle enthusiasts have come up with many theories about what creates the patterns, ranging from the plausible to the absurd. One explanation in vogue in the early 1980s was that the mysterious circle patterns were accidentally produced by the especially vigorous sexual activity of horny hedgehogs, according to the Washington Post.
Some people have suggested that the circles are somehow created by localized and precise wind patterns, or by scientifically undetectable Earth energy fields and meridians called ley lines, according to Kent Heberling.
Others, such as molecular biologist Horace Drew, suggest that the answer lies instead in time travel or alien life, according to The New Zealand Herald. He theorizes that the patterns could be made by human time travelers from the distant future to help them navigate our planet.
However, these odd, pseudo-biblical messages undermine the credibility of the crop circles, or at least the meaning read into them. Of all the information that an extraterrestrial intelligence might choose to convey to humanity — ranging from how to contact them to engineering secrets of faster-than-light travel — these aliens chose to impart intentionally cryptic messages about false gifts, broken promises, and hope for mankind (along with what seems to be a reference to a popular "The X-Files" slogan).
Hover over the theories to scan their credibility rating according to paranormal investigators. (No clicking required).
Highly absurd. Animal activity cannot create perfect, massive geometric shapes. Rating: 0% Plausible.
Weather anomalies exist, but localized wind leaves messy destruction, not fractal math patterns. Rating: 10% Plausible.
Why would hyper-advanced time travelers cross the universe to write 'Beware false gifts' in English on a UK wheat field? Rating: ???
Many who favor an extraterrestrial explanation claim that aliens physically make the patterns themselves, according to Lockhaven University. Still others believe that it is human, not extraterrestrial, thought and intelligence that is behind the patterns — not in the form of hoaxers but some sort of act of God, according to the BBC.
While there are countless theories, the only known, proven cause of crop circles is humans. Their origin remained a mystery until September 1991, when two men confessed that they had created the patterns for decades as a prank to make people think UFOs had landed, according to an article by the LA Times.
Supposedly, according to the Australian Geographic they had been inspired by the 1966 Tully UFO report. They never claimed to have made all the circles — many were copycat pranks done by others — but their hoax launched the crop circle phenomena.
Whilst most crop circles are now attributed to hoaxers, crop circle researchers still search for those which cannot be explained, "genuine crop circles" according to The Smithsonian Magazine.
Ask if there are vocabulary or grammar problems. If there are, tell them to go to Google and investigate meanings or grammar.
What are the common features of crop circles?
A triskelion crop circle. The symbol can be used to represent cycles, progress or competition. (Image credit: Thomas J. Sutter, Jr. public domain)
While there are always a few exceptions, virtually all crop circles share a set of common characteristics.
Almost always involve circles — rarely triangles or squares. A circle is the easiest pattern for hoaxers to create.
Formed overnight. Great advantage for hoaxers to create under the cover of darkness; full moon nights are popular.
Never recorded being made. A suspicious trait if mysterious earthly forces or aliens are at work.
Appear in fields providing easy public access, close to highways. Rarely in remote areas.
There are many theories about what creates crop circles, including aliens, mysterious vortices, time travelers and wind patterns, but they all lack one important element: good evidence. The only known cause of crop circles is humans. Perhaps one day a mysterious, unknown source will be discovered for crop circles, but until then, perhaps they are best thought of as collective public art.
Ask for opinions, comments, questions or doubts.
Click on the questions to reveal the investigation prompt space. Discuss the answers as a team.
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