Crop circle: Difference between revisions

Latest revision as of 15:38, 9 December 2024

Crop Circle

A crop circle is a large geometric pattern created by the flattening of a crop such as wheat, barley, rye, or corn. These formations are often intricate and can appear overnight, leading to various theories about their origin. Crop circles have been reported worldwide, but they are most prevalent in the United Kingdom, particularly in the county of Wiltshire.

History[edit]

The phenomenon of crop circles dates back to the late 20th century, with the first modern reports emerging in the 1970s. However, there are historical references to similar occurrences, such as the "Mowing-Devil" legend from 1678, which describes a field of oats being mysteriously flattened.

In the 1980s, crop circles gained significant media attention, and their complexity increased. This period saw the emergence of more elaborate designs, including fractals and other mathematical patterns.

Characteristics[edit]

Crop circles vary in size and complexity. They can range from simple circles to intricate designs that incorporate multiple geometric shapes. The patterns are typically created by flattening the crops in a uniform direction, which can give the appearance of shading or three-dimensionality.

Formation[edit]

The exact method of formation is a subject of debate. Some researchers suggest that crop circles are created by natural phenomena, such as wind vortices or animal activity. However, the majority of crop circles are believed to be man-made, created by individuals using planks, ropes, and other tools to flatten the crops.

Scientific Studies[edit]

Several scientific studies have been conducted to understand the formation and effects of crop circles. These studies often focus on the physical changes to the plants, such as bent stems and altered growth patterns. Some researchers have reported changes in the soil composition and electromagnetic anomalies within crop circles.

Theories and Explanations[edit]

There are numerous theories regarding the origin of crop circles:

Human Activity: The most widely accepted explanation is that crop circles are created by humans as a form of art or hoax. This theory is supported by the confessions of several individuals who have claimed responsibility for creating crop circles.

Natural Phenomena: Some researchers propose that crop circles are the result of natural phenomena, such as wind patterns, animal activity, or even plasma vortices.

Extraterrestrial Influence: A popular theory among some groups is that crop circles are created by extraterrestrial beings as a form of communication or as markers for spacecraft.

Cultural Impact[edit]

Crop circles have had a significant impact on popular culture, inspiring books, films, and television shows. They are often associated with the paranormal and have become a symbol of mystery and intrigue.

Also see[edit]

Template:Crop circles

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-[[file:CropCircleW.jpg|thumb|CropCircleW]] [[file:Aerial_View_of_the_Crop_Circle_in_Diessenhofen_15.07.2008_16-44-41.JPG|thumb|Aerial View of the Crop Circle in Diessenhofen 15.07.2008 16-44-41|left]] [[file:Swiss_crop_circle_detail.jpg|thumb|Swiss crop circle detail]] [[file:Colour_sketch_of_a_spaceship_creating_crop_circles.jpg|thumb|Colour sketch of a spaceship creating crop circles|left]] [[file:Diablefaucheur.jpg|thumb|Diablefaucheur]] '''Crop circle'''
+[[File:CropCircleW.jpg|thumb]] [[File:Aerial View of the Crop Circle in Diessenhofen 15.07.2008 16-44-41.JPG|thumb]] [[File:Swiss crop circle detail.jpg|thumb]] [[File:Colour sketch of a spaceship creating crop circles.jpg|thumb]] Crop Circle
-[[File:CropCircle.jpg|thumb|A crop circle in a field]]
+A crop circle is a large geometric pattern created by the flattening of a crop such as wheat, barley, rye, or corn. These formations are often intricate and can appear overnight, leading to various theories about their origin. Crop circles have been reported worldwide, but they are most prevalent in the United Kingdom, particularly in the county of Wiltshire.
-A '''crop circle''' is a large geometric pattern created by the flattening of a [[crop]] such as [[wheat]], [[barley]], [[rye]], [[maize]], or [[rapeseed]]. The term was first coined in the early 1980s by [[Colin Andrews]], a well-known researcher in the field. Crop circles have been reported worldwide, but they are most common in the [[United Kingdom]], particularly in the county of [[Wiltshire]].
+== History ==
+The phenomenon of crop circles dates back to the late 20th century, with the first modern reports emerging in the 1970s. However, there are historical references to similar occurrences, such as the "Mowing-Devil" legend from 1678, which describes a field of oats being mysteriously flattened.
-==History==
+In the 1980s, crop circles gained significant media attention, and their complexity increased. This period saw the emergence of more elaborate designs, including fractals and other mathematical patterns.
-The phenomenon of crop circles has been documented for centuries, with some of the earliest known references dating back to the 17th century. The so-called "Mowing-Devil" case of 1678 is often cited as an early example. However, modern crop circles began to appear in the late 20th century, with a significant increase in reports during the 1970s and 1980s.
-==Characteristics==
+== Characteristics ==
-Crop circles vary in size and complexity, ranging from simple circular patterns to intricate designs that span hundreds of feet. They are typically created overnight, leading to speculation about their origins. The patterns are often symmetrical and can include a variety of shapes such as circles, triangles, and more complex geometric forms.
+Crop circles vary in size and complexity. They can range from simple circles to intricate designs that incorporate multiple geometric shapes. The patterns are typically created by flattening the crops in a uniform direction, which can give the appearance of shading or three-dimensionality.
-==Theories and Explanations==
+=== Formation ===
-Several theories have been proposed to explain the origin of crop circles:
+The exact method of formation is a subject of debate. Some researchers suggest that crop circles are created by natural phenomena, such as wind vortices or animal activity. However, the majority of crop circles are believed to be man-made, created by individuals using planks, ropes, and other tools to flatten the crops.
-* '''Human-Made Hoaxes:''' Many crop circles have been proven to be the work of human pranksters. In 1991, [[Doug Bower]] and [[Dave Chorley]] claimed responsibility for many of the crop circles in England, demonstrating how they created the patterns using simple tools like planks, ropes, and wire.
+=== Scientific Studies ===
+Several scientific studies have been conducted to understand the formation and effects of crop circles. These studies often focus on the physical changes to the plants, such as bent stems and altered growth patterns. Some researchers have reported changes in the soil composition and electromagnetic anomalies within crop circles.
-* '''Natural Phenomena:''' Some researchers suggest that natural phenomena such as wind patterns, [[earth energy]], or animal activity could be responsible for the creation of crop circles.
+== Theories and Explanations ==
+There are numerous theories regarding the origin of crop circles:
-* '''Extraterrestrial Activity:''' A popular theory among some enthusiasts is that crop circles are created by extraterrestrial beings or [[UFOs]]. This theory is often supported by anecdotal evidence and eyewitness accounts of strange lights or objects in the sky near crop circle sites.
+* '''Human Activity''': The most widely accepted explanation is that crop circles are created by humans as a form of art or hoax. This theory is supported by the confessions of several individuals who have claimed responsibility for creating crop circles.
-==Scientific Research==
+* '''Natural Phenomena''': Some researchers propose that crop circles are the result of natural phenomena, such as wind patterns, animal activity, or even plasma vortices.
-Scientific research into crop circles has been limited, but some studies have been conducted to analyze the physical and chemical properties of the affected crops. These studies have found anomalies such as elongated nodes and expulsion cavities in the plants, which some researchers argue could not be caused by simple mechanical flattening.
-==Cultural Impact==
+* '''Extraterrestrial Influence''': A popular theory among some groups is that crop circles are created by extraterrestrial beings as a form of communication or as markers for spacecraft.
-Crop circles have had a significant impact on popular culture, inspiring books, movies, and television shows. They have also become a tourist attraction, particularly in areas where they frequently appear. The phenomenon has sparked interest in various fields, including [[ufology]], [[paranormal]] research, and [[art]].
-==Related Pages==
+== Cultural Impact ==
-* [[Ufology]]
+Crop circles have had a significant impact on popular culture, inspiring books, films, and television shows. They are often associated with the paranormal and have become a symbol of mystery and intrigue.
+== Also see ==
 * [[Paranormal]]
+* [[Extraterrestrial life]]
+* [[Hoax]]
+* [[Geoglyph]]
 * [[Wiltshire]]
-* [[Extraterrestrial life]]
-* [[Geometric patterns]]
-==See Also==
-* [[Doug Bower]]
-* [[Dave Chorley]]
-* [[Mowing-Devil]]
-* [[Earth energy]]
-[[Category:Paranormal]]
+{{Crop circles}}
-[[Category:Ufology]]
-[[Category:Geometric patterns]]
-[[Category:Tourist attractions]]
-{{Paranormal-stub}}
+[[Category:Paranormal phenomena]]
+[[Category:Hoaxes]]
+[[Category:Unexplained phenomena]]