Strange circular depressions in fields of grain crops. In England during 1976, patterns of unknown origin were observed, impressed on fields of grain. At first the patterns were simple circles but, as years passed, the number, locations, and complexity of these circles increased. The idea that some human agency might be responsible was dismissed: There were just too many and they were too widespread and sophisticated for them to be the product of someone playing a prank, some sort of a joke. They appeared in short time during the night, and there were no footprints of pranksters leading to or from the pictograms.
Having ruled out a human origin, people, some of whom had scientific training, began to examine the sites in detail and postulate possible causes. Some of the patterns showed a central circle surrounded by four symmetrically placed smaller circles clearly, it was concluded by some, caused by a flying saucer and its four landing pods. Another explanation was unusual wind patterns; Dr. Meaden of the Circles Effect Research Group (CERES) suggested that the circles were caused by an electrically charged whirlwind, or plasma vortex, which when it collapses does so with a powerful downward gust of wind. That might be a possible explanation for simple circle, but not for the more complex patterns. As these speculations and the interest they aroused spread, a new discipline was formed cerealogy with its magazines, societies, and books.