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August 1st, 2011, 12:20 GMT · By

Crop Circles Explained by Simple Physics

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This is a crop circle in the form of a double (six-sided) Triskelion
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Scientists at the University of Oregon say that crop circles are very likely not caused by supernatural forces or UFOs, but rather by the laws of physics. These circles are enormous drawings on the ground, usually laid in crop fields, and that are visible in their entirety only from the air.

The director of the UO Materials Science Institute (MSI), Richard Taylor, says that these massive drawings are not the work of alien visitors, or caused by Gaia trying to get people to notice the harm we are doing to the planet.

He notices a correlation between the complexity of the crop circles and the time in which they were drawn. Simply put, earlier drawings are more primitive, whereas the more recent ones are way more of complex, denoting superior technology was used to create them.

Rather than looking for explanations in the sky, the expert proposes that we consider a simple fact – those who drew the figures on the ground replaced planks of woods, bar stools and ropes with global positioning system (GPS) devices, lasers and microwaves.

In the current issue of the journal Physic's World, the investigator and his team remind people that the first crop circles appeared back in the 1970s. It was only in 1991 that the two men responsible for their creation stepped forward and admitted it was all a hoax.

Though the two admitted to creating the original circles, they never took responsibility for all of them, which means that their example set in motion an underground, widespread phenomenon. As the years passed, the simple designs were replaced by increasingly complex patterns.

Some of the newest crop circles contain as much as 2,000 different crops. But Taylor and other researchers are now suggesting that a simple magnetron from a microwave oven and a 120-volt battery are sufficient to create the complex shapes.

“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,” he explains.

In other words, crop circles will continue to spring up in the countryside, much to the dismay of farmers and the amazement of viewers, LiveScience reports. What constantly puzzles experts is the obscurity of mathematical principles used to create the drawings.

Oftentimes, those who create the crop circles employ elegant mathematical theorems such as Euler's Identity to create their masterpieces.

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READER COMMENTS:


Comment #1 by: Eric on 01 Aug 2011, 19:28 UTC reply to this comment

And yet there are still people that believe aliens decided to travel light years across space to doodle with our crops...to some aliens and UFOs are more real and easy to understand than simple physics, sadly...

Comment #1.1 by: Magpilot on 15 Aug 2011, 19:35 GMT

Hi Eric, I love simple physics but can you explain how the most sophisticated formations are created by physics? I can't find a simple physics explanation, much as I would like to.
I am presently drawn to the assumption that the best formations must be made by some external beings, not of this planet. Otherwise could it be the military experimenting with DEWs connected to a graphics generator. High technology in any case. Who does these and why.
Please enlighten us with your simple physics theory. Thank you Eric.


Comment #2 by: Magpilot on 15 Aug 2011, 19:29 UTC reply to this comment

When you take the time to really study the sophistication and perfection of some crop formations, it's hard to imagine they could be produced by humans. It seems the most unlikely hypothesis. One is then drawn to the thought that maybe there is a superior race of aliens trying to communicate something important to us. It certainly appears to me that true knowledge is being suppressed by the governments. I need to find out more.

Comment #2.1 by: Nikita on 30 Sep 2011, 14:26 GMT

I was looking for the skeptics viewpoint of crop circles but there is non here unfortunately. All you say here is that there are scientific ways to do it via technology and microwaves but offer no explanation whatsoever. Is this really supposed to be a scientific explanation? come on.....


Comment #3 by: John on 20 Oct 2011, 03:09 UTC reply to this comment

When one considers the fact that there are extremely clear videos available which actually depict UFO's creating crop circles, one cannot attribute all of them to pranksters or ordinary people.


Comment #4 by: John on 20 Oct 2011, 03:16 UTC reply to this comment

Crop circles of extraterrestrial origin are created by beams of highly concentrated gravito-electric waves. If you doubt that this is possible, please consider the fact that Dr Podkletnov, amongst many other physicists have been developing similar technology for decades now. Unfortunately most of this research is classified and the breakthroughs that have been made in secret research labs have not been made available to the mainstream physics establishment.

Comment #4.1 by: mark on 21 Oct 2011, 23:39 GMT

I, for one, am totally annoyed by the crop circle phenom. While they are elegant, and interesting as mystery, would the creators be withholding their identities until some exasperated millionaire steps forward and promises a huge payment for a demonstration? Otherwise I can see no motivation. Since when has art made itself more appreciated by an atmosphere of hoax? Apparently the creators are a sinister lot.


Comment #5 by: seahawks12 on 30 Jan 2012, 06:48 UTC reply to this comment

I don't believe the weather can make these complex desighs un less it's intelligent


Comment #6 by: ScienceRulesTheDay on 19 Feb 2012, 14:50 UTC reply to this comment

What a load of bull. Let's see these people give a demonstration of just how this magnetron and car battery work. Go ahead - show us the way. Anyone capable of creating these complex works would want to come forward and be recognized. But they don't. Why?

Comment #6.1 by: fairsayer on 25 Mar 2012, 14:17 GMT

PRECISELY ! ! Only if these clever dudes can set up a demo for public performance, I am sure millions would come and pay good money to see it. I, certainly would. So, as you say, what is the attraction in keeping this a mystery?


Comment #7 by: pbahchevanov on 08 May 2012, 13:38 UTC reply to this comment

I wish to the team to pick up the devices and following their explanation to make a complex figure.


Comment #8 by: DJ on 09 May 2012, 14:55 UTC reply to this comment

If it's that simple, why don't you give the world a live demonstration - you would become world famous overnight! But before you start, let's consider the conditions that your demonstration would have to meet in order to convince even relatively casual observers of the crop circle phenomenon. For a start, you should do it in the Wiltshire, UK area where by far the majority of crop circles which are regularly ocbserved occur. You should specify exacly which field you have chosen for your demonstartion in order to avoid the accusation that you simply picked the latest crop circle creation as your own, and you should notify the Wiltshire crop circle society well before you arrive in order to ensure that there will be plenty of experienced observers in place to observe your demonstration. Since crop circles are almost impossible to observe at ground level except from an elevated viewpoint, the same sociey would be well able able to advise you on suitable sites. Criteria which will clearly identify your work will be footprints and other signs that ordinary humans have been at work. So, to be really convincing, your crop circle should ideally be in the centre of a large field and the design should consist of several elements separated from each other (as is often the case with crop circles). And lastly, you will not convince any experienced crop circle observer if you are seen working on the site for several hours to achieve your design -no crop circle (except demonstrations by sceptics) have ever been seen being made, despite hundreds of enthusiasts equipped with the latest technology, observing the phenomena year after year. OK then, ready? off you go and good luck to you!


Comment #9 by: Twisted Premise on 25 May 2012, 04:13 UTC reply to this comment

wow, I am supposed to think little people run around in the night undetected as they plan these intricate designs and the plants go along with their idea? I cant get a four foot plot of my garden to be that cooperative but these guys get a whole field to bend to their will and they do it without getting caught in a country withover 30,000 surveillance cameras? You have to be pulling my leg with that explanation.

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