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Englishcombe, near Bath, Somerset. Reported 12th August. Photograph © Gary Howe 2001. investigating a "scorpion-shaped" formation at Stadskanaal with a team from the Dutch Centre for Crop Circle Studies in early August. As they strolled around the formation, an extra circle appeared even as they surveyed it, though no one saw it happen; suddenly, there it was. Photos proved that it had not been there when they first entered. They began to feel ill effects as they approached it, and decided to leave in case the newly formed shape had dangerous properties. The batteries immediately drained in one of the cameras present, and a digital camera was later found to have had its data corrupted. This is but one demonstration that, despite all the intrigues and paranoia which may infect the crop circle community from time to time, a sizeable mystery still remains around this most beautiful of unexplained phenomena. Science may also explain why some of this year's earlier UK formations seemed subdued: evidence has shown that crop circle appearances are linked to underground water and the state of geo- logical aquifers. BLT Research's data from previous years shows that summers where the aquifers are low seem to produce the most numerous, vibrant designs. The extensive flooding of late 2000 left the aquifers abnormally high at the start of this season. It is interesting to note that BLT Research is still finding uni- form biological anomalies in samples from crop patterns sent in from around the globe, and yet man-made tests—despite unfound- ed claims by hoaxers—have still been unable to replicate the core findings of these results. Whatever man-made formations there may be, some are not easy to explain away so quickly. In addition to the British film being planned, 2002 will see the release of a new Hollywood blockbuster starring Mel Gibson as a farmer whose life is turned upside down by the supernatural arrival of a crop design on his land. Whatever spin Tinseltown puts on the mystery, attention towards the non-fictional circles will almost certainly intensify a hundredfold when the movie arrives, and a whole new generation may discover something going on that has hitherto passed them by. With all this new attention partly in mind, Southern Circular Research this year successfully launched its website www.swirlednews.com, a rolling news service for the crop circles (replacing its long-running journal, SC) to balance sceptical pro- paganda and disinformation with incisive commentary and analy- sis. Readers are invited to log on for the real stories about what's going on in the fields. oo Milk Hill, near Alton Barnes, Wiltshire. Reported 13th August. Photograph © Steve Alexander/Karen Douglas 2001. aganda and disinformation with incisive commentary and analy- sis. Readers are invited to log on for the real stories about what's going on in the fields. Woodborough Hill, near Alton Barnes, Wiltshire. Reported 10th Yatesbury, near Avebury Trusloe, Wiltshire. Reported 22nd July. August. Photograph © Steve Alexander 2001. Photograph © Steve Alexander 2001. Yatesbury, near Avebury Trusloe, Wiltshire. Reported 22nd July. Photograph © Steve Alexander 2001. NEXUS = 63 OCTOBER — NOVEMBER 2001 www.nexusmagazine.com