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Wednesday, 9 August, 2000, 14:43 GMT 15:43 UK
Magnetic 'solution' to crop circle puzzle
![]() Colin Andrews has researched crop circles since the 80s
Research into the appearance of crop circles in summer fields claims the strange phenomena are caused by the Earth's magnetic field.
But he believes that magnetism may account for the rest, which display a simplicity of form compared with elaborate, beautiful patterns of the "hoaxes". Dr Andrews believes a mysterious shift in the magnetic field gives rise to a current that "electrocutes" the crops forcing them to lie flat on the ground. Summertime feature The known hoaxers, artists who spend hours trampling fields with footboards attached to a length of rope, say the public does not believe in scientific explanations.
Designs in the flattened wheat, barley and corn become more elaborate each year, fuelling the debate over who or what is responsible for them. Explanations have ranged from freak weather conditions to alien visitors. But Dr Andrews, funded by a grant from the Rockerfeller Institute in the US, believes he is closer to the truth. 'Natural' creations He has hired private detectives to track hoaxers and now says he can rule out 80% of the formations. He claims the less elaborate designs are the "natural" creations caused by a three-degree shift in magnetic field lines.
![]() Some claim circles are UFO landing sites
Self-proclaimed hoaxer John Lundberg said no-one would ever believe a scientific explanation for crop circles because people want to believe it is something more mysterious. "The public don't want it explained," he said. Most mainstream scientists believe the only explanation for crop circles lies in the footboards of hoaxers.
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