In vain we scan from east to west,
The search for life is man's great quest:
Are we alone?
Where are the rest?
We've barely come as far as Mars.
Who else is there among the stars? Fred Johnson
An interview with Professor Fred Johnson and Steve Weintraub: "Are We Alone in
The Universe?" July, 5th 2025.
Fred, the answer is no; there are other, more advanced societies in our galaxy. One of them is attempting to make contact and has visited our planet several thousand years ago. I'll talk about the details later in the interview.
Steve:
Are you familiar with recent publications by other authors on this topic?
Fred
Yes, I am familiar with the recent publications of Wolhart and Sutter
Steve:
Are you aware of other people who have also written extensively on this topic?
Fred: In 1939, Winston Churchill wrote a lengthy essay exploring the possibility of alien life, concluding that we are likely not alone in the universe. Among others, there is the famous Enrico Fermi Paradox, which concerns the apparent absence of signs of aliens. Then there is Paul Davies, whose book discusses this topic, entitled “The Eerie Silence:
Are We Alone in the Universe?” Davie is a physicist and cosmologist.
Steve: Had you come across others who had also discussed this topic
Fred: Indeed, others had either addressed the possibility or denied it; these were the works of Arthur C. Clarke, John D. Barrow, and Frank Tipler.
Jaime Green, a science writer and author of a book on our topic, should also be included in this list
What is your relationship with Steve Weintraub?
Fred;
Steve has been my publisher since 2008. We have done four books together.
“Fred, why did you choose astrophysics?”
“ I am often asked: “ To answer that requires a somewhat lengthy explanation: While working on a PhD in physics at Columbia University, I was fortunate to receive a teaching appointment from Lloyd Motz of the astronomy department. I had to study astronomy and teach astronomy in the evening to students of Prof. Lloyd Motz. A ten-foot-long, A 12-inch-diameter telescope was situated atop the thirteen-story-high physics building. I was instructed to enable his astronomy students to visit this observatory in the evenings. I had the opportunity to increase my knowledge by taking all the astrophysics courses being offered. I also had to attend numerous astronomy seminars. One visiting astronomer introduced me to a novel, unsolved spectroscopic problem, suggesting that I would be a good candidate to attempt a solution. Since my PhD physics mentor, Charles H. Townes, was equally interested, I began working on this challenge for about a year, being instructed to continue after obtaining my PhD in physics. This was also the time in 1957 when I searched the sky for the first orbiting spacecraft, “Sputnik.
Steve: “Fred, do you recall how the US government reacted to the novel space race?”
I became aware that large sums of money were made available via multiple government contracts and the establishment of new agencies, such as DOD, e.g., NASA, which was launched in 1958.
Steve: Fred, what did you do after you obtained your PhD?
Fred:“ I was sequentially appointed to two different research facilities, first to an RCA Labin Princeton, N.J., and later to a subsidiary of Xerox Corp in Pasadena, CA. As a result, I was fortunate to make a large number of scientific discoveries, published in science journals, including spectroscopic results based on NASA-supported research. This facilitated my appointment as chair of the California State University Physics Department in Fullerton, CA. Moreover, NASA permitted the transfer of my NASA-supported research program to the University.
Steve: How did this new University position affect your research?
Fred: The government facilitated the transfer of all my spectroscopic equipment to the University. So, my research was continued with the help of several college physics students. Furthermore, I immediately initiated teaching a new Astronomy course (since none had existed previously at this University).
Steve: Were you then able to expand your approach to the bigger picture of the Universe?
Fred: Absolutely yes. The new astronomy course I launched now incorporates a far wider range of topics. It was entirely different from other typical curricula and texts. It required my publication of a new Astronomy textbook in 1976. named: “Voyage into Astronomy”.
Steve: We published its second edition. "Voyage Into Astronomy, Second Edition, We Are Not Alone In the Universe”. 978-1-936360-51-2.
Fred: Correct, my new expanded perspective incorporated an outline of our origins and considered the possibility that we are not alone in this vast universe, plus a fresh new theory for the origin of our solar system. My astronomy course was popular, with 300 students per semester and a waiting list. Students were treated to planetarium visits and observing sessions with our 14-inch telescopes at a remote location outside our campus.
Steve: Were you required to retire at a certain age?
Fred: I took partial retirement in 1992, which allowed me to continue spectroscopic research with several advanced physics students. Furthermore, I decided to launch another career: I became an expert witness, which involved over 100 depositions in more than 500 cases and 45 individual trials in Superior courts.
Steve: Did this enormous and unusual background experience influence your subsequent research?
Fred” Absolutely. My legal experience has helped me analyze unwholesome theories in astronomy and construct new solutions. The rigors encountered in the legal arena do not, unfortunately, exist in academia. I was thus motivated to re-examine much of astronomy and to expand my vision to the vast universe. I had been tasked with solving complicated accident cases, which gave me the confidence to delve into the many mysteries of astronomy. The question “Are we alone?” was never far off my horizon. Furthermore, scientists and astronomers are, unfortunately, rarely, if ever, challenged or cross-examined on their dubious theories. This fact made me stand out and provided the origin of my text “Recent Discoveries in Astronomy”, which you published in 2021
Steve: You followed up with another text, which we published in 2023, in which you Stressed solutions to the problems raised in the prior text. Please elaborate on your analysis of the far larger problem concerning our origin and the likelihood that there are other, more advanced civilizations in our galaxy.
Fred “ The history of humans on this planet is unfortunately replete with warfare, cruelty, and an enormous amount of ignorance, with a sprinkling of enlightenment emanating from the Bible’s teaching and early Judaism. The period of industrial development and the recent advances in technology arrived far too soon on our earth, much too early. Humanity was not yet ready for all this advanced knowledge; it had not yet adopted a “live and let live” (Bible-inspired) universal program. It would be akin to providing machine guns to monkeys. On the other hand, another far more advanced society from another relatively nearby planet must have recognized our terrible situation and is immensely troubled. These aliens are sufficiently concerned about our fate that they produce enormous efforts to alert us to our probable imminent demise. Contrary to our unnecessary concerns, these aliens have no intention of harming us. Their lifestyle and their technology are thousands of years ahead of us. We do not understand nor appreciate the tremendous efforts by this benign, highly advanced alien society. There is overwhelming evidence of their presence in our surroundings. Complicated crop circles, some with clear messages, cannot be easily ignored. For example, a solar system picture devoid of planet Earth, and a replica of a menorah that was present in the Jerusalem Temple more than 2,000 years ago, demonstrate alien visits many years ago.
Steve: Are there any discoveries in our most recent 2023 book together? "Recent
Discoveries in Astronomy Forensic Astronomy" ISBN 978-1-936360-84-0 that would aid
Our understanding of UFOs?
Fred: Yes. The fact that gravity is not universal but confined to each different solar system.
Hence, the observations of peculiar, erratic motions of observed UFOs
Steve: Based on the large number of so-called Crop Circles and frequent reports of strange atmospheric sightings, called either UFOs or, lately, Drones, do you have an opinion on what these Aliens wish for us to be aware of?
Fred: Since UFO sightings appear to be associated with (or pointing towards) nuclear physics installations, I believe that they are aware of our predicament and are attempting to warn us of our dangerous situation. Frankly, aliens are more than justified in their concern for our survival: there are far too many nuclear bombs in the possession of extremely unreliable countries/ dictatorships.
Steve: Do we have any distinct evidence for aliens in our galactic environment?
Fred: Yes, indeed, there is an example of an overwhelming series of events which I shall describe herewith: specifically “The 1974 Arecibo message and its response 25 years later. See the message sent and its response: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Arecibo_message The originals had no color. Color was added to enhance visibility and recognition of similarities and differences. The message was designed by Frank Drake, with help from Carl Sagan and others, and sent into space via a powerful, frequency-modulated signal consisting of 1,679 =(23x73) binary digits, on 16 November 1974. (73 columns and 23 rows) from the former 1000ft diameter of the Arecibo telescope in Puerto Rico. The message was supposed to represent humanity’s technological achievements. It consisted of 7 layers: the top layer had numbers from 1 to 10; The following line represents our DNA molecule. Numbers also identified atomic elements in the DNA, such as Hydrogen, Carbon, Nitrogen, Oxygen, and Phosphorus. The following line (green) is a formula for the chemical compounds that make up the nucleotides. (White)The estimated number of DNA nucleotides in the human genome. A graphic of the double helix structure of DNA (blue) The dimensions of an average man (blue/white) A graphic figure of a human being (red); The human population of Earth (white) A graphic of our solar system (yellow) indicates the source of the message. Lastly, a graphic of the Arecibo telescope: its dimensions are indicated, including the diameter of the transmitting antenna.
Steve: Would the transmitted message have remained parallel?
Fred: No, at a distance of about 13 light years, it would spread by a minimum of 400 A.U.And could be readily intercepted by an intelligent species.
Steve: Did we receive a response to our original message?
Fred: Yes, 27 years later, on October 13, 2001, several images (erroneously referred to ascrop circles) appeared in a field facing the British Radio Observatory at Chilbolton,Hampshire. The largest of these formations was a meticulously edged copy of our original transmission. A smaller image, positioned near the larger one, resembled a pictorial representation of a face, possibly that of the sender. Please take a look at the attached color photo at the bottom of this chapter. The original Arecibo message and its potential alien response are displayed next to each other, with color added for easier comparison. Note the differences: 1. Alien DNA contains silicon atoms in its structure, and its helix is more complex than ours. Their solar system has a cooler K-type star, which facilitates alien use of planets closer to their star. Aliens use a more sophisticated transmission technology, indicated by a complicated crop circle in their response message. https://www.sciencenews.org/article/decode-arecibo-alien-message-math
Steve, what was the response from SETI?
Fred: The whole organization, known as SETI, immediately announced its denial by erroneously labeling the unambiguous Arecibo return message as a hoax. In contrast, note the enormous efforts made by this alien society in their diligent efforts : (1)Their messages were sent to a location facing another earth telescope, (2) alien transmitted a photo like image of the face of its sender (3) Aliens used the identical 73x23 format that we used. ( 4) Aliens have a different DNA atom (silicon) in their DNA that we don’t have. (5) The alien helix structure is more complex and different from ours. The sudden overnight appearances are far too complicated to have been done by any human being. They are unambiguous and clearly should have served as a wake-up call. We are being watched and warned of impending disaster. It also, unfortunately, confirms humanity’s blindness and ignorance.
https://cdn.shopify.com/s/files/1/0922/5548/articles/Alien_84_769f253f-ccd9-4c0e-9b9e-2fd8c3fc542e.jpg
Steve: I wish to express my thanks and appreciation to you for allowing me this extended interview . The location string photos originate from Wikipedia ( with implied permission for its distribution through the Creative Commons license.)