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Yahoo
04-08-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
The Loch Ness Monster's body is a ‘zoological impossibility'
The earliest accounts of a mysterious creature lurking in Loch Ness date back to the 7th century CE. But after 1,300 years and innumerable sightings, there's still no substantial evidence supporting the beast's existence. According to a recent historical review published in the scientific journal Endeavour, part of the problem may be the fact that Nessie's most commonly recognizable appearance is a 'zoological impossibility.' Generations of lore, hoaxes, and pop culture depict the Loch Ness Monster's stereotypical description as a serpentine animal whose body forms loops or arches as it moves through water. After examining decades' worth of archival material, University of St. Andrews ecologist Charles Paxton and the Loch Ness Centre's Adrian Shine noted that 25-32 percent of all Nessie-related postcards show a creature bending into one or more 'hoops' above the water's surface. It then stands to reason these are based on most people's sightings, right? The 'real' Nessie should at least somewhat resemble the Nessie on postcards, t-shirts, and other souvenirs. That's what Paxton and Shine argued. 'If commonplace imagery portrays multi-arched sea serpents, and witnesses are influenced by this imagery, then 'archiness' might be presumed to be commonly represented in subsequent eyewitness reports of sea serpents,' they wrote. As it turns out, the hypothesis doesn't hold up. In fact, amid all the Loch Ness Centre's documented sightings, Paxton and Shine estimate only 1.5 percent describe an implausible animal with hoops or humps. 'Images of such serpentiform animals have been common ever since the 16th century yet the actual proportion of such eyewitness reports, especially at Loch Ness, has until recently been extremely low,' the study's coauthors wrote. 'In this case it really seems witness[es] do not generally report the impossible, even though the hooped monster is a common portrayal of Nessie.' Consider unidentified flying objects as a comparison. Prior to the 1947 Roswell incident and Area 51's ensuing cultural ascendency, UFO reports described all kinds of odd aerial vehicles—from zeppelin-like contraptions to streamlined rockets. Once the public learned of supposed flying saucers, however, media depictions quickly shifted towards the plate-like design as extraterrestrials' preferred method of transportation. And while many sightings do involve saucers whizzing around witnesses' heads, most instead still describe physics-defying orbs and lights. Although the immediate reaction may be to further discount Nessie sightings, the researchers actually argue the opposite. If anything, the fact that most people don't describe an outlandish monster is something that warrants consideration. At the same time, the researchers explicitly caution that their findings don't validate arguments in favor of an aquatic cryptid in Scotland either. 'This insight supports the contention that the majority of eyewitness reports are actually based on some underlying physical reality, even if not representing an actual encounter with an unknown species,' they wrote. With this in mind, it's probably a good idea to stick to the revised maxim: If it looks like pop culture's Nessie and moves like pop culture's Nessie—chances are it isn't the actual Nessie. … And even if the mystery figure doesn't have humps, it's still more liable to be a log than a Loch Ness Monster. Solve the daily Crossword
Daily Mail
07-07-2025
- Science
- Daily Mail
Nessie hunters are telling the truth! Bombshell study says those who spot the monster really are seeing something in the loch
Nessie spotters are telling the truth and really do see something in the loch, a jaw-dropping new study has revealed. But those who describe a monster with a long body forming hoops above the water may be telling porkies, the paper suggests. Experts made their findings while examining whether Nessie sightings were influenced by popular depictions of the mythical monster. What they discovered was that the stereotypical Nessie – with her body looping above the loch – is only described in a small number of sightings. And that suggests that most witnesses are being truthful, according to Charles Paxton, a statistician at the University of St Andrews, and co-author of the study. Dr Paxton said: 'The wider conclusion is that it would be wrong for people to assume that people are just making up their experiences 'I'm sure there are liars and exaggerators and things like that, but I also think that most people are reporting their own experiences. 'That doesn't mean there actually is a Loch Ness Monster, but I think witnesses, broadly speaking, are telling the truth as they've experienced it.' The loch, in the Scottish Highlands, has become synonymous with the legendary creature. The modern fascination with Nessie began in April 1933, when Aldie Mackay reported seeing a whale-like creature in the loch To see how Nessie is portrayed in popular culture, the team examined postcards depicting the mythical monster. They found that roughly 30 per cent of the sample group depicted the creature with its body looping in and out of the water. Yet only 1.5 per cent of sightings described Nessie this way. Dr Paxton said: 'There is a mismatch there. 'And that kind of implies to me that the witnesses aren't necessarily being influenced by this imagery that they see in every souvenir shop around the loch.' Those few sightings which do describe a 'hooped' Nessie are false, the researchers believe. For one thing, such a creature is 'biologically impossible', Dr Paxton said. 'It's a really inefficient way to move through water,' he explained. Some people, such as Alan McKenna, founder of Loch Ness Exploration (LNE), believes elusive 'standing waves' might explain sightings of the mythical monster Nessie sightings might just be 'standing waves' Some experts say 'standing waves' might explain sightings of the mythical monster. Alan McKenna, founder of Loch Ness Exploration, said: 'A standing wave occurs when two boat wakes of the exact same frequency and amplitude are moving in opposite directions on the loch surface. When the two boat wakes finally meet and interfere with one another the results have the potential to create a standing wave.' The peaks of standing waves, rising above the calm waters, could be mistaken for 'humps' above the surface. 'And so if people report that, they're at best mistaken or they're telling untruths.' Dr Paxton's co-author, the naturalist Adrian Shine, added: 'Basically serpents undulate laterally – horizontally – as they move through the water. 'And of course they can derive some traction from that, but not if these loops are coming out of the water. 'As a means of progression in water, it's impossible. There's nothing to push against.' Mr Shine, a fellow of the Royal Geographical Society and founder of the Loch Ness Project, says he is a 'sympathetic sceptic' when it comes to the monster. But he says the study lends credibility to those who claim to have seen Nessie. He said: 'Since they are not reporting the loops, which are the stereotypical depiction, their testimony is more likely to be true, sincere and well-observed than not.' He added: 'Our findings lend credibility to the witnesses. The burden of the paper is that the witnesses are not being influenced by the popular stereotype.' The mythical creature has captured the attention of people around the world for decades (artist's impression) Yet he remains doubtful that any mythical monster is behind the sightings. The true cause could be a mixture of boat wakes and birds, among other things. Dr Paxton was more circumspect on the Nessie debate. 'I think the Loch Ness Monster exists as a reported phenomenon,' he said. The new study was published in the journal Endeavour. What IS the Loch Ness Monster? Rumours of a strange creature living in the waters of Loch Ness have abounded over the decades, yet scant evidence has been found to back up these claims. One of the first sightings, believed to have fuelled modern Nessie fever, came in May 2, 1933. On this date the Inverness Courier carried a story about a local couple who claim to have seen 'an enormous animal rolling and plunging on the surface'. Another famous claimed sighting is a photograph taken in 1934 by Colonel Robert Kenneth Wilson. It was later exposed as a hoax by one of the participants, Chris Spurling, who, on his deathbed, revealed that the pictures were staged. Other sightings James Gray's picture from 2001 when he and friend Peter Levings were out fishing on the Loch, while namesake Hugh Gray's blurred photo of what appears to be a large sea creature was published in the Daily Express in 1933. The first reported sighting of the monster is said to have been made in AD565 by the Irish missionary St Columba when he came across a giant beast in the River Ness. But no one has ever come up with a satisfactory explanation for the sightings - although in 2019, 'Nessie expert' Steve Feltham, who has spent 24 years watching the Loch, said he thought it was actually a giant Wels Catfish, native to waters near the Baltic and Caspian seas in Europe. An online register lists more than 1,000 total Nessie sightings, created by Mr Campbell, the man behind the Official Loch Ness Monster Fan Club and is available at So what could explain these mysterious sightings? Many Nessie witnesses have mentioned large, crocodile-like scutes sitting atop the spine of the creature, leading some to believe an escaped amphibian may be to blame. Native fish sturgeons can also weigh several hundred pounds and have ridged backs, which make them look almost reptilian. Some believe Nessie is a long-necked plesiosaur - like an elasmosaur - that survived somehow when all the other dinosaurs were wiped out. Others say the sightings are down to Scottish pines dying and flopping into the loch, before quickly becoming water-logged and sinking. While submerged, botanical chemicals start trapping tiny bubbles of air.
Perth Now
07-07-2025
- Science
- Perth Now
Loch Ness monster watchers don't see humps
Loch Ness monster sightings aren't influenced by cultural depictions of the creature. The legendary Scottish beast is often shown swimming above the surface of the water with three humps on display but new findings show that the monster's undulating features are rarely described in reports by those who claim to have seen Nessie. Research conducted by the University of St Andrews and the Loch Ness Centre revealed that just 1.5 per cent of people who say they have seen the creature over the past century have stated that it has humps in their description. The experts also found that between 25 and 32 per cent of postcards showed the monster with visible humps behind her head and neck. They also portrayed Nessie with clear distance between her body and the water's surface, something that researchers say is "biologically impossible". Dr. Charles Paxton, an expert at the University of St Andrews, said: "Scholars often assume that monsters are generated by cultural expectations, but it is always useful to test obvious hypotheses. "In the case it really seems that witnesses do not generally report the impossible, even though the hooped monster is a common portrayal of Nessie."
BBC News
04-07-2025
- Science
- BBC News
Loch Ness monster spotters don't see the humps, experts say
The image of Nessie as a long, thin, three-humped monster has featured in Scottish culture for Ness Monster memorabilia in Highland gift shops and children's books depict a snakelike aquatic monster above the surface of the water with distinct new research has found the sea monster's undulating physique rarely features in reports by those who claim to have spotted revealed only 1.5% of people who have claimed to see Nessie over the past 100 years have reported hoops or humps in their description. The research by Dr Charles Paxton from the University of St Andrews and Adrian Shine of the Loch Ness Centre looked at the history of hooped sea monster imagery and its cultural examined how often the imagery of Nessie's arched body appeared in postcards and said that between 25% and 32% showed her with visible humps trailing behind her head and also showed the creature with a clear distance between her body and the surface of the water, which researchers said was "biologically impossible".To start with, they said, the swimming method would be very inefficient, so the chances of her looking like that at the surface would be unlikely. The findings go against previous studies that suggest eyewitnesses are usually influenced by popular portrayals of mythical creatures they see in the to the research, the majority of sighting reports are actually based on some underlying physical reality."Scholars often assume that monsters are generated by cultural expectations, but it is always useful to test obvious hypotheses," Dr Paxton said."In this case it really seems witnesses do not generally report the impossible, even though the hooped monster is a common portrayal of Nessie." How many times has Nessie been spotted? Tales of a monster date back to the Middles Ages when Irish monk St Columba is said to have encountered a creature in the Ness, a river that flows from Loch Ness. But the first modern sighting - which has continued to capture public imagination ever since - was more than 90 years ago. In April 1933, hotel manageress Aldie Mackay reported seeing a whale-like creature "churning" in the loch while she was on a car ride around the Inverness Courier newspaper reported the sighting and the editor at the time, Evan Barron, suggested the beast be described as a "monster".Sightings have continue to be made in recent times, with the Official Loch Ness Monster Sightings Register receiving more than 1,000 reports since its launch in were three last year and two so far in 2025, according to the first sighting this year described two humps moving across the loch, while the second, in May, reported a long, thin creature. The search for the Loch Ness Monster In 1933, it was believed the creature looked like the plesiosaur - an aquatic dinosaur with a long neck thought to have become extinct about 66 million years ago. Critics have since said the plesiosaur was likely a cold-blooded creature and would not have survived in the cold Loch Ness waters. And if it was warm-blooded, it would need more food than the loch could provide. People have debated all kinds of theories as to whether a creature lives in the loch. The Loch Ness Investigation Bureau carried out searches in the 1960s and the late 1980s, Operation Deepscan saw more than 20 boats make a sonar sweep of the man, Steve Feltham, dedicated his life to solving the mystery of the Loch Ness Monster, giving up his job and selling his Dorset home to move to the shores of Loch Ness in 2019, a team of scientists who had visited the loch said giant eels could be behind researchers from New Zealand catalogued all living species in the loch from DNA extracted from water analysis, they ruled out the presence of large animals said to be behind reports of a monster - including the prehistoric plesiosaur or a wandering Greenland shark, which have been known to appear near Scotland. Two years ago, a search billed as the biggest Nessie hunt in more than 50 years saw volunteers help record natural - and any unusual - sights from vantage points on the quest, observers on a boat using acoustic equipment reported four unidentified "gloops" but then realised their recording device wasn't plugged event, which involved searches on the loch and from shore, was held for a third year in vehicles captured underwater photographs of salmon, pike, and a piece of cabling from camera equipment used in a 1970s search.
Scotsman
03-07-2025
- Science
- Scotsman
Loch Ness Monster spotters not swayed by iconic imagery, as 'surprise' 1.5% figure revealed
Only 1 per cent of Nessie spotters report seeing the famous sea monster's humps. Sign up to our daily newsletter – Regular news stories and round-ups from around Scotland direct to your inbox Sign up Thank you for signing up! Did you know with a Digital Subscription to The Scotsman, you can get unlimited access to the website including our premium content, as well as benefiting from fewer ads, loyalty rewards and much more. Learn More Sorry, there seem to be some issues. Please try again later. Submitting... The image of Nessie as a long, thin, three-humped monster has endured in Scottish mythology for centuries - luring thousands of visitors to the banks of Loch Ness every year with its mystery. But now, new research has found the sea monster's undulating physique rarely features in reports by those who claim to have spotted her. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Researchers found only 1.5 per cent of those who claim to have seen Nessie report hoops or humps in their description, suggesting they may not be influenced by the traditional imagery used in postcards and other memorabilia. The research, by Dr Charles Paxton from the University of St Andrews and Adrian Shine from the Loch Ness Centre, explores the history of the image of Nessie as a three-humped creature and its prevalence in today's culture. They examined the frequency of the image in postcards. The researchers found between 25 and 32 per cent of all postcards of Nessie depict her as hooped. A historical postcard showing Nessie as a three-humped monster | University of St Andrews The findings contradict previous work that suggests witnesses are usually influenced by popular portrayals of mythical creatures they see in the media, showing more people than previously thought report what they experienced. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Dr Paxton, from the University's Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling (CREEM), said: "Scholars often assume that monsters are generated by cultural expectations, but it is always useful to test obvious hypotheses. 'In this case it really seems witnesses do not generally report the impossible, even though the hooped monster is a common portrayal of Nessie.' Nessie is big business for tourism The mythology of the Loch Ness Monster has continued to capture the public imagination ever since a 'sighting' nearly 1,500 years ago. The earliest recorded mention of Loch Ness's oldest inhabitant, mooted to be a plesiosaur, dates back to the sixth century. Today the enduring question over whether or not the prehistoric relic may still roam the murky depths of the Highland loch is worth millions of pounds a year to Scottish tourism. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Around half a million tourists are lured to the Loch Ness area each year, hoping to spot Nessie – generating upwards of £40 million for the Scottish economy. Where did the rumours of the Loch Ness Monster start? While rumours of an enigmatic creature wriggling around in the loch can be traced back all the way to the sixth century, the Loch Ness Monster was brought to global attention in 1933 when an article regarding a 'whale-like fish' was published in the Inverness Courier. That article acknowledged "Loch Ness has for generations been credited with being the home of a fearsome-looking monster". This was also where the creature gained the famous - and perhaps rather unfair - title of 'monster'. What sort of creature could Nessie be? In 1933, it was pointed out the creature appeared to bear a striking resemblance to the plesiosaur – an aquatic dinosaur with a long neck thought to have become extinct around 66 million years ago. Advertisement Hide Ad Advertisement Hide Ad Critics have since pointed out the plesiosaur was probably a cold-blooded creature that would not take kindly to the chilly waters of Loch Ness. And if it was warm-blooded, it would require far more food to sustain it than the loch could provide. It would also need to surface several times a day for air, which would surely lead to far more sightings - although some have questioned whether it would be able to lift its head out of the water in the first place. Less exciting theories have ascribed Nessie sightings to various modern animals. Greenland sharks can grow to around 20-feet long and have been known to appear near Scotland. They can survive in fresh water and would happily dine out on the loch's fish.
