(Paul made me promise that I wouldn't use the same photo as last time before he gave me the story, so I've used a completely different one this time)This is not really a RISC OS story, but news of one of our favourite RISC OS people doing good. Paul Vigay, whose virtues have been sung many a time on this website, is not only a film star as reported previously - he's just gone coast-to-coast in America with his expert opinion on the recent Chilbolton "Arecibo message" crop circle.
After an inital radio interview heard by around 13 million burger-munchers, his expert analysis of the crop "circle" - actually a rectangular formation - has been picked up by various US radio shows, TV shows and news services such as Reuters. Apparently his 'phone hasn't stopped ringing, with three more transatlantic calls coming in this morning as well.
The buzz is about the appearance of a message, similar to the one sent out from Arecibo, Puerto Rico, in 1974 to tell any alien life forms out there who we are. This new message is very similar, but with subtle differences - and Paul's the one who has figured them out. The changes include a difference in DNA structure; the addition of silicon to the basic elements of life; and a pointer to the fourth planet in the solar system. Of course there's the likelihood of a hoax, and Paul is careful to remain neutral in such matters, but as well as using the same code as the original message there's also an extremely intricate picture of a face in the same field which appears impossible to produce from the ground.
Link: Crop Circle Research
Some links to people who've picked up his report:
Earthfiles - radio equivalent of "Encounters" TV show
Flash News - news agency, feeding 800 broadcast outlets worldwide.
Art Bell Show - late night chatshow
Circlemakers - even the hoaxers make a reference to his 'very thorough analysis'
