The Evolution of a Phenomenon
            The crop circle phenomenon has shown a progressive evolution since the 1970s when their presence came into the public realm.  They have grown in size, complexity, number of components, types of design, and beauty.  The most noteworthy progression is the transformation from simple circles to complex mathematical and geometric forms.  They haven't just gotten bigger and more attractive, they have become scientifically relevant.  It defies reason at this point to consider that these are natural or random in origin.  Someone, or something, is definitely trying to convey a message to mankind.

 The Usual Suspects

Human Circle Makers
            The least likely culprit is man.  The sheer number, complexity, nocturnal appearances, and worldwide presence of the phenomenon present the alibi of logic.  Not enough unemployed scientific and artistic geniuses to go around, man's need for great quantities of light to work at night, and no evidence of human presence puts this theory to rest.  There are those that claim they are the source, calling themselves Circle Makers.  All things considered, it is not irrational to label these "wannabes" as imposters at best and prevaricators at worst. 

The Wind
            The official government explanation is that whirlwinds, created by heat thermals, are the true cause of the crop circle anomaly.  There are only three problems with this theory.  Heat thermals occur in the heat of the day, crop circles are formed almost exclusively at night.   Whirlwinds are not famous for producing intricate designs in nature, while crop circles are anything but random swirls.  Whirlwinds do extreme damage to plants, while plants within crop circles are virtually undamaged by the events.  This is a patently ridiculous notion, to say the least.  Swamp gas might even sound better.

The Government
            Many speculations about the government's space-based military projects as the cause are often theorized.  It is assumed that the government is making these patterns with some new space-based technology.  Considering that this phenomenon has been recorded well before our presence in space would not even allow this theory any credibility, we are left with an obvious question.  Who was doing this before the government was even in space with anything but primitive satellites?

Plasmas
            Theories that plasmas, such as ball lightning and sprites, are the cause of the crop circles point directly to the impossibility of a random unintelligent force behind the occurrences.  This theory makes even whirlwinds look practical. 

Mating Hedgehogs
            Yes, even the mating rituals of hedgehogs and scampering porcupines have been blamed.  Nothing more need be said on this one.

Unidentified Flying Objects
            Bright lights, beams of light, orange balls, golden globes, and an assortment of flying and hovering objects have been associated with crop circles by those most important, the witnesses.  Ask the people that were there and they'll tell you what caused it, UFOs, plain and simple.  Of course, these people are only honest, hard working, intelligent civilians, not spin doctors, our self-chosen gurus.  Anybody in authority that makes such a report is considered as obviously insane, so their credibility doesn't count anyway.  Besides, they will eventually change their stories, if they want to keep their jobs or any sense of a normal life. 

What is Known

Evidence of the Artist
            The cover of darkness only works some of the time.  Many eyewitness accounts testify to a variety of lights, in many colors, that dance across the fields and hover, projecting beams of light on the ground.  The product of this artistic light show is seen in stunning display as the day breaks across the natural canvas.  Strange sounds are reported in the vicinity of crop circle formations and often are the only indication that a work is in progress.

Altered States
            From a distance, the area that forms the design appears to have been flattened by a small, and very versatile, steamroller.  But closer examination reveals an intricate method used to create the depressions.  Millions of plants are delicately interwoven as though a mat was being made.  At the same time, many levels of these swirling and living mats are layered in alternating clockwise and counter-clockwise patterns.  They are not broken, but gently bent into shape with no damage to the plants, which will continue to grow and produce, as though nothing unusual has taken place.  That is the outward appearance, what's inside the plant has also been changed.  Whatever process is employed, it actually alters the fundamental biophysics and biochemistry of the plants.  Some have described the effect as resembling an exposure to intense, but not harmful, microwave radiation.  The entire surface of some formations is glazed with a layer of minute particles of pure iron, while areas just outside the effected areas are not.  The purity of these particles is not found in iron produced anywhere on Earth.

The Cattle Connection
           The other phenomenon associated with agriculture is bovine excisions, commonly known as cattle mutilations.  The anomalies shared with crop circles are strikingly similar.  Both happen almost exclusively at night, with no evidence of human or mechanical presence.  Strange lights and objects in the immediate vicinity of excisions and circles are commonly reported.  Extraordinary sounds are heard in both situations.  Animals will not eat the excised animal carcasses or the altered plants and wild as well as domesticated animals scrupulously avoid the areas of the anomalies.  Alteration of plants is common and the most stunning parallel is also the most unearthly.  The same highly purified particles of refined iron are present in the excisions as well as crop circle formations.  Since the metal calling card is almost exclusive to these two anomalies, it's a good bet the same force is responsible for both.  Pure iron is also found in the anomalous iron pillars found throughout India and at UFO landing sites not connected to agriglyphs or large animal excisions. 

A Logical Conclusion
            In simple terms, whatever the force or entity may be that is producing crop circles; it is not from the known world.  They are reported all over the globe, affecting an unlimited variety of plants and environs.  Writing has even appeared, interpreted to reveal ominous statements of displeasure by the authors.  It is even more ominous that our leaders are either ignoring the evidence or, worse still, hiding any truth they may have discovered.  If the latter is the case, they are committing the worst type of social crime.  Hiding such incredible truth is no less a crime than misrepresenting it. 
            This is what we know.  What we don't know is without measure.  One thing is certain though; crop circles are without equal in design and beauty.  Until the true circle makers reveal their purpose, the truth will remain a mystery.  At this point, we are left viewing these design masterpieces much as we would works of art in a gallery.  Only the artists' names are missing from the canvas.