Original headline:
Crop circles make heads spin
A Saskatoon research assistant with the Canadian Crop Circle Research Network says it's highly unlikely a recent crop formation near Wilkie was a hoax.
"I don't know how somebody would have made this," said Beata Van Berkom shortly after returning from the site to collect soil and plant samples and take measurements.
"If a person did this, they've got too much time on their hands, 'cause it would take forever, even if you decided to do it with a board and rope," she said. "It's not going to happen."
But Const. Dean Flaman of Wilkie RCMP said someone has admitted to making the crop circles as a prank between neighbours.
Van Berkom said someone could have flippantly said he created it. "I think it was a joke that got out of hand," she said.
Van Berkom said the formation is beautiful, crisp and pristine, while prank circles are sloppy. She said if it was a hoax, she would like the perpetrator to contact her.
"If anyone knows how to make them, phone me," she said.
The formation was found Aug. 8 in a Wilkie-area farmer's wheat field and features two large circles, several pathways, oval rings and a horseshoe shape.
Van Berkom said the new crop formation is probably more than 120 metres in total length.
"This is the largest one that I've seen in Saskatchewan," said Van Berkom, who will represent Canada at a crop circle conference in Phoenix in November.
She said she doesn't like to make up her mind about what's behind crop circles.
"I don't know if Earth is downloading a new program or if someone's trying to tell us something," she said.
Crop circles could have something to do with sound or light that humans cannot perceive, she said. According to Van Berkom, there is geometric and mathematical information contained in crop circles, which form in "natural patterns.
"I think we just have to keep our minds open with this," she said.
Van Berkom has sent past samples to Michigan biophysicist W.C. Levengood, although budget constraints do not allow her to do so now.
Levengood argues crop circles are caused by some type of microwave energy that superheats the plants and bends them at their nodes.
Van Berkom said the soil under crop circles often has high magnetic readings, reordering of crystals and more metals than usual.
Her digital camera died unexpectedly while on the formation. Van Berkom said she has heard similar reports from others.
The seeds of mature crops affected by crop circles are more hardy and grow with less light and water than usual, she added.
Van Berkom noted Saskatchewan has the most crop circles per capita of any region in the world. She encourages people to contact her at 665-6532 to report crop circles as soon as they are found.
See also: Crop Circle Focus Now On Saskatchewan
