Steve Johnson UFO and Sci Fi Author - Mercury Rapids

Steve Johnson's interest in UFOs began in his childhood, when his brother handed him a picture book on the subject. Already a fan of science fiction, he would maintain his interest in unidentified flying objects through to adulthood.

Steve Johnson

Steve Johnson wrote a book, titled Mercury Rapids. It is a science fiction adventure, heavily influenced by UFO lore. Two sequels followed, The Thoth Imperative and The Mountains Of Tomorrow. MERCURY RAPIDS is a science-fiction trilogy. Steve's website also features articles on UFOs, the paranormal and conspiracies, as well as TV, book and film reviews and original screenplays.

  

After attending the Great British UFO Show in Leeds in 2005, which was organised by former UFO Magazine editor, Russell Callaghan, Steve wrote a review for his website. Russell contacted Steve and asked if he would like to join the team for a new print magazine called UFO DATA Magazine.

The magazine ran for fourteen issues until closing in 2008. Mr Johnson contributed many articles for UFO DATA and also worked alongside Russell, Philip Mantle and Michael Buckley in producing the magazine.

Philip Mantle later contacted Steve and asked if he could write for a new print magazine called UFO Matrix. Steve wrote a new column for the first few issues, but personal matters forced him to step away. 

At around the same time, Steve was approached by Dionne Rose, a movie producer based in London, and a contract was agreed for him to write the screenplay for a movie about a real-life alien abduction called A70. Unfortunately, creative differences intervened and the project eventually went elsewhere.

No longer writing or actively participating in the UFO field, Steve still has an interest in the subject and his articles can still be found on his website www.mercuryrapids.co.uk

All books were published by iUniverse and are available on line.

No such thing as aliens? X-Files star David Duchovny says the truth ISN'T out there

DAVID Duchovny, best known for his leading role as FBI agent Fox Mulder, has revealed he does not believe in aliens.

David Duchovny has revealed he doesn't trust people to be able to keep aliens secret

The actor returns to the screen next week in a new series of the X-Files alongside Gillian Anderson, who will reprise her role as Agent Dana Scully M.D.

But it appears the extra terrestrial antics of the cult sci-fi show have not rubbed off on the 55-year-old.

He said: “I’ve never known anybody, not one person, to keep a secret.

The cult sci-fi hit has not managed to convince the 55-year-old about extra terrestrials

“You come home from work and you go: ‘Honey I’ve got to tell you something, but you’ve got to promise not to tell anybody.

“They’re here, I saw an alien today' and she’s like: ‘I won’t tell anybody’ and she is then straight on the phone with her mom.”

“I find it hard to believe that they’re keeping aliens from us because it’s pretty juicy.

It’s not the first time Duchovny suggested we will not be having any close encounters of a third kind any time soon.

When asked last year if researching UFOs for his role had made him believe in flying saucers, he said: “No and never."

He added: "I remember I used to try to answer my fan mail because there wasn't much of it, and they would bring it to me. There were stories that people would tell me about being abducted.

"They would just make me sad. I thought that these people had issues that they had to deal with."

Ancient Alien Life On Mars? Evidence In Deepest Basins Points To Ancient Martian Life

Did alien life exist on Mars in the distant past? A new study reveals evidence that might help answer this question.

Evidence for Martian lakes was discovered in some of Mars's deepest basins and will continue to be examined this coming summer. (Photo : Twitter/NASA)

New findings from researchers at the Planetary Science Institute reveal that some of the deepest basins on Mars were formed by groundwater circulation underneath a massive tectonic rift zone that was found along the sides of some of the solar system's largest volcanic plateaus approximately three billion years ago. These basins were likely gradually covered by lava and water lakes stemming from subsurface pressurized sources over the course of hundreds of millions of years and point to the possibility of Mars harboring life in the past.

"The temperature ranges, presence of liquid water, and nutrient availability, which characterize known habitable environments on Earth, have higher chances of forming on Mars in areas of long-lived water and volcanic processes," Alexis Rodriguez, lead author of the paper, said in a press release. "Existing salt deposits and sedimentary structures of possible emplacement within Martian paleo-lakes are of particular astrobiological importance when looking for past habitable areas on Mars."

(Photo : Planetary Science Institute) The photo above shows the floor (top) of a basin where ancient shallow lakes might have formed as well as the floor (bottom) of a Martian high mountain lake in the Tibetan plateau. All of the arrows identify ridges that bear similarity to each other and surround the basin’s floor.

"This is particularly true if the discharge of early Mars groundwater, perhaps liked to hydrothermal systems that were active for billions of years, contributed to the formation of the paleo-lakes, as it is proposed in this investigation," he added.

The discovery of these paleo-lake sites on Mars brings up many new questions, especially considering that Mars' cold and thin atmosphere would produce ponded water that would be much different than the Earth's in terms of behavior.

"In this research we propose a Tibetan region where high mountain lakes show unique sets of landforms that might explain some basin interior features in the studied region of Mars," Rodriguez said.

Further research, which will be conducted in collaboration with the Chinese government, will explore this Tibetan region in order to uncover their potential to act as local astrobiological analog sites; this research will be conducted during the summer of 2016.

Did aliens cause this volcano to erupt? Bizarre video sparks UFO rumours among sky-watchers

The strange disc-shaped objects are seen whizzing past Colima Volcano in Mexico, just as it erupts

Were aliens behind the sudden explosive activity of this volcano?

Conspiracy theorists say this intriguing video footage shows a cigar-shaped UFO flying past the mouth of the Colima Volcano in Mexico just as it erupts.

The strange, thin disc is seen passing quickly through the sky just as smoke and lava begins to spew from the top of the mountain.

It appears to pass through or behind the smouldering magma before exiting through the other side and continuing to fly off.

The mysterious footage has sent UFO hunters into a spin.

Ufologist Scott C. Waring believes it shows an alien spacecraft performing a pick-up or drop off at an extra-terrestrial hideaway deep within the volcanic chamber.

"The UFO passes over and through the lava shot up from the mouth of the volcano," he wrote.

"As it gets above the mouth there is a bust of light and all goes black. The UFO then flies away.

"I believe that as the UFO went over the mouth, it transported someone or something to or from the underground base below the volcano."

If conspiracy theorists are to be believed, cigar-shaped UFOs are on something of a tour of Earth at the moment.

Watch cluster of UFOs flying in unison over Moscow in video declared AUTHENTIC by experts

The film - shot in Russia's capital at the end of last month - shows four unidentified lights hovering and swooping above the city in what looks like synchronised flying

Astonishing video footage of what looks like a cluster of UFOs flying in unison over Moscow has been declared authentic by experts.

The film - shot in Russia's capital at the end of last month - shows four unidentified lights hovering and swooping above the city in what looks like synchronised flying.

Mysterious: Experts declare UFO footage authentic

Thousands of people have now viewed the images across the county, which seem to show the objects moving at great speed and then hovering in formation.

The man who filmed the Close Encounters-style spectacle, named only as Timur in local media, explained: "There were four balls of light. A red one to the left, two white ones in the middle and a less bright one to the right."

He added: "Sometimes the one on the right would disappear and come back. All together, they made the geometric shape of a rhombus."

And he dismissed some critics' claims that the lights could be a reflection of lights on the ground.

Timur explained: "I’ve been living in the district for two years, and have never seen anything like that before."

Now Russian UFO expert Vadim Chernobrov has confirmed that he believes the footage is genuine.

He explained: "The lights cannot be explained as either an atmospheric or a cosmic image.

"The chance of it being some sort of mirage is also impossible due to the precise geometric shape the objects have formed."

Chernobrov added: "Some have said they could look like Chinese lanterns but I would dismiss this possibility because of the movements and speed of the objects."

UK X-Files: Top-secret UFO docs which could 'prove aliens exist' may be released in DAYS

CONFIDENTIAL government reports into UFO sightings - dubbed the "British X-Files" - could be made publicly available within DAYS.

The long-awaited boost for alien hunters follows years of campaigning by the British disclosure movement, who want all world Governments to release all their alien files.

UFO researchers, backed by a House of Lords peer, have been fighting for the release of 18 top secret Ministry of Defence (MoD) files about UFO sightings from more than 30 years ago.

The Government faced claims of a cover-up from conspiracy theorists when their release was stalled at the end of 2013.

Some investigators claim the files could provide key evidence of extra-terrestrial life visiting the UK and of specific information about famous controversial sightings such as the Rendlesham Forest incident - a series of reported sightings of unexplained lights and the alleged landing of one or more craft in Suffolk in late December 1980.

Lord Black of Brentwood, who asked the Government for an update through a Parliamentary question last summer, was assured the files would be released by the MoD to the National Archives by March this year.

Alien hunters are confident these records could prove if extra-terrestrial life actually exists, as these were the most secretive files held in the private offices of various Cabinet ministers.

Although the files are being released to the National Archives, it is not yet clear when they will be available for public inspection.

This is because the archive organisation can set its own release date.

In his Parliamentary question, Lord Black asked: "What is the latest estimate of when the 18 files will be passed to the National Archives, and then released to the public."

Defence Minister Earl Howe replied: "The latest estimate of when the 18 files will be delivered to the National Archives is before March 2016.

"The National Archives will make the necessary judgement about when they release these files to the public."

A number of older UFO files held by the UK government have already been released, including details of sightings by officials and police.

Nick Pope, who used to investigate the existence of UFOs for the MoD, said the files should contain some fascinating sightings.

However, referring to what is often called the most famous UFO claim in history - sparked by claims an alien spaceship crashed in New Mexico, US, in 1947 - Mr Pope added the soon-to-be-released files are probably not a "UK Roswell-style UFO in a hangar style cover up".

When the release of the files were stalled in 2014, which the MoD blamed on "additional processing requirements", Mr Pope sympathised with alien researchers.

He said at the time: "This massive delay will have conspiracy theorists up in arms. It looks like the MoD is stalling.

"The suspicion will be that there's a bombshell in these files and that the Ministry does not know how to handle it.

"I can understand why conspiracy theorists will be angry and suspicious."

Mr Pope worked at the MoD for 21 years, but was specifically assigned to investigate UFOs for a three-year period.

He said: "Having worked on the MoD's UFO project I'm sorry to say that we don't have any crashed spaceships hidden away in some RAF hangar, as some believe, but we do have some fascinating and unexplained cases in our files."

The 'Redlesham Forest incident', which is alleged to have taken place near RAF Woodbridge, Suffolk, in 1980, saw US Airman First Class John Burroughs, who was stationed there, exposed to radiation after a mystery "UFO visitation".

He has since won damages from the American military, but still wants answers about what happened and hopes they will be in the new files.

Pat Frascogna, his lawyer, said: "We know there is information contained in these MoD files about the Rendlesham Forest incident because the MoD clearly indicated so in responding to a Freedom of Information request by John Burroughs last year."

100 reported UFO sightings in Minnesota every year, local group says

MINNEAPOLIS (KMSP) - TV shows like "The X-Files" have explored the possibility of UFOs. And while there have been reported sightings all over the world, some say they continue to land right in Minnesota.

A local UFO group said there are about 100 reported sightings a year in the state. Although nearly 90 percent turn out to be something like a meteor or a plane, the others remain a mystery.

“In general, we've had a steady stream of sightings for decades,” Bill McNeff, Chief Investigator for the Minnesota chapter of the Mutual UFO Network, said. “I think the general public should be fascinated by the possibility of life from other plants from other star systems.”

Last month, the CIA released a picture of an unidentified flying object over Minneapolis in 1960 from its own so-called "X-files" – a group of UFO documents declassified in 1978.

McNeff said he investigated a claim by a Prior Lake couple who saw a reddish-orange glowing sphere about 6-feet wide hovering over a swamp behind their condo last fall – “As it rose up, it emitted two other red-orange spheres that were smaller. They were one and a half feet in diameter. These three objects flew in formation until they were out of sight."

Minnesota sheriff's deputy reports UFO sighting

But the most famous UFO sighting in Minnesota was a close encounter between a Marshall County Sheriff's deputy and a beam of light outside the town of Stephen back in 1979. Val Johnson said it came right at him, shattering his windshield and bending the antennae on his patrol car 90 degrees.

Johnson woke up 39 minutes later with burns around his eyes. And the clock on his dashboard and watch had both stopped for 14 minutes – “There was a lot of physical evidence, and it was a law officer. A respected law officer,” McNeff said.

It even inspired several scenes on the latest season of the "Fargo" TV show. Whether you believe UFOs are real or not, they seem to be more mainstream than ever.

REVEALED: Britain's capital for alien UFO sightings

MANCHESTER is Britain’s UFO capital, with flying saucers spotted above the city every fortnight.

Sightings over the city in the past year include mystery craft, five metallic objects in a triangle formation and a “red green ball flying at great speed”.

According to the Mutual UFO Network (Mufon) there are 23 UFOs spotted in Greater Manchester every year.

Footage taken by a witness in Tameside last year showed an “unusual” spacecraft streaming through the air.

The witness said: “The object made very rapid movements and went at speeds no other aircraft can go.”

The data released by Mufon, a US company dedicated to reporting UFO sightings, follows another viewing in nearby Stockport in March last year.

A witness said: “I noticed a strange light that looked like a cylinder. After maybe 30 seconds it vanished at such speed I couldn’t tell which direction it went in.”

Earlier this month a stunned motorist spoke out after seeing a mysterious black object in the sky above Ashton-under-Lyne, Greater Manchester.

Taxi driver Paul Douglas filmed a UFO floating near Salford Quays in July last year.

THE SCOTTISH UFO & PARANORMAL CONFERENCE (June 25th)

I'd like to inform you of the biggest paranormal event to occur in Scotland this year, The Scottish UFO & Paranormal Conference 2016. This will be occurring at the Debates Chamber, Glasgow University, 32 University Avenue, Glasgow, Scotland, G12 8Q on Saturday June 25th between 10:00am and 8:00pm.

We have a terrific line up of speakers for this year's conference,
Roland Watson, 'A Paranormal History of Nessie'
Alyson Dunlop, 'Demons & Dark Places'
Ron Halliday, 'UFO Scotland'
Malcolm Robinson, 'Poltergeists, The Best Cases'
Charmaine Fraser, 'The UK Wildman, Is There A British Bigfoot'?
Gordon Rutter, 'Mushrooms, Myths & Magic'
Larry Warren & Peter Robbins, 'The Rendlesham Forest Mystery'
The event will be hosted by well know Bonnybridge UFO Councillor, Billy Buchanan and is sponsored by Phenomena Magazine.

Tickets Priced just £10 for the full day (a bargain) are available from me. Send cheque or postal order made payable to, SPI Scotland and send to,

Scottish UFO & Paranormal Conference (2016)
Flat 5, Unicorn House,
Croft Road,
Hastings,
East Sussex,
England,
TN34 3HE.

If you only go to one conference this year, this is the one.
Best wishes. Malcolm Robinson.

A pair of police officer brothers spot 'UFOs' hovering in the sky while on their way to work

A pair of police officer brothers claim to have spotted 'UFOs' hovering in the sky on their way to work.
PCSO Simon Ives, 42, said he was walking to a bus stop, in Collier Row, Essex, when he saw an alien spaceship.
Even more miraculously, minutes after Simon had finished rubbing his eyes in disbelief, his brother then got in touch to say he had spotted another UFO while driving down the M11.

PCSO Simon Ives took this picture of what he believes to be a UFO after spotting it in the sky above Essex

Simon said: 'I was on my way to work when I saw an object about the size of a football field with three bright orange lights hanging in the sky.
'It waited in a stationary position for about six to eight minutes before moving west over my head.
'It was absolutely incredible and I cannot explain what it was.
'There was another member of the public standing near me so I called him over and he shouted, 'Oh my god.'

'I can safely say it wasn't a plane because from tip to tail it was far too big.
'I am into astronomy and what I saw was very unusual.'
The father of one, who spotted the object at 5.18am last Friday, said: 'What was really weird was my brother sent me a text a few minutes later to say he'd seen the same object.'
Jonathan Ives, 35, a Metropolitan policeman, who lives in Romford with his wife Sarah, added: 'I told him, 'You've got to be joking me.'
'I know it wasn't a commercial object.

Mr Ives claimed the alleged UFO, pictured, was about the size of a football field with three bright orange lights

'It could have been a dark, military project or possibly something from outside this world.
'I am definitely open-minded to the idea of there being life outside our own planet.'
Simon, who has served in the Met for 15 years, said: 'This isn't the first time I've seen a UFO. In 2011 in Leytonstone I saw something similar that I can't explain.
'I also set up a paranormal group a few years ago to investigate ghost sightings in haunted houses.
'We didn't find any definitive evidence of ghosts but it was still quite frightening.'