Latest news with #LochNessProject
Yahoo
11-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Loch Ness Monster camera deployed in 1970 is pulled from water after 55 years — with eerie photos revealed
These secrets have been Loch-ed away for over half a century. An underwater camera deployed in 1970 in an attempt to capture images of the Loch Ness Monster was accidentally recovered — and it boasts some incredible photos. 'It is remarkable that the housing has kept the camera dry for the past 55 years,' Adrian Shine of the Loch Ness Project, which has been hunting for Nessie since the 1970s, told the BBC after identifying the aquatic recorder. The gadget was one of six cameras sent down into the Loch in 1970 by Chicago biologist Roy Mackal of the Loch Ness Investigation Bureau, Popular Mechanics reported. He had hoped to get definitive footage of the legendary cryptid, which has spawned thousands of so-called sightings — including a 'particularly captivating' one last month of a 'slithery mass' in the lake. The camera then lay forgotten for over a half-century until it was encountered by an autonomous marine submersible known as Boaty McBoatface, which was operated by the UK's National Oceanography Centre. While scouring the depths, McBoatface inadvertently snagged the mooring of the monster cam — nearly 600 feet down. Shine said he was impressed by the 'ingenious camera trap,' which was equipped with a built-in flash cube so four pictures could be snapped when the bait line was taken, perhaps by the so-called monster. He was also amazed that such a complex camera had managed to stay dry in its casing for all those years so far down and — most importantly — yield viable film when opened. To monster lovers' chagrin, the cam didn't capture any pics of Nessie, but the photos that were developed provided a fascinating visual map of the murky depths of Loch Ness. The film and the camera were subsequently handed over to the Loch Ness Centre, in Drumnadrochit, close to where it was recovered. Unfortunately, the existence of Nessie remains as murky as the waters in which it allegedly resides. Even die-hard monster hunter Adrian Shine remains unconvinced; he recently dismissed iconic photos of the beast as boat wakes or birds. 'Of course, there are long-necked creatures on Loch Ness — we call them swans,' the Scot scoffed.
Yahoo
04-04-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
In 1970, an Underwater Camera Searched for the Loch Ness Monster. It Just Surfaced—With Haunting Photos.
"Hearst Magazines and Yahoo may earn commission or revenue on some items through these links." A camera trap deployed by a Loch Ness researcher in 1970 was recently recovered by an autonomous robot. Not only was it still intact—it still had film that could be developed, and the photos show a glimpse of the murky depths of the loch. Robots like the one that found the camera are often tested in Loch Ness before going out into the open ocean. The Loch Ness Monster is right up there with Bigfoot and Mothman when it comes to famous cryptids. While there has never been any proof that Nessie exists, something dredged up from the depths of the lake may tell us more about what goes on in the dark waters she is imagined to inhabit. Hardcore Nessie enthusiasts are always watching for a sign that the existence of their beloved lake monster isn't a hoax. In 1970, University of Chicago biologist Roy Mackal of the Loch Ness Investigation Bureau deployed six cameras meant to catch any footage of Nessie in action. More than half a century later, an Autosub robot (otherwise known as Boaty McBoatface) from the UK's National Oceanography Centre (NOC) took a deep dive and got something stuck in its propeller—part of the equipment anchoring one of Mackal's cameras at a depth of 180 meters (almost 600 feet). The camera was identified by Loch Ness researcher Adrian Shine, founder of the Loch Ness Project. His organization has been tirelessly searching for signs of a monster (or some sort of less mythical beast) since the mid-1970s. The Instamatic camera was actually part of a trap, and its built-in flash cube allowed it to take four photos when activated by a bait line. Shine was impressed by how—despite being submerged for 55 years—the camera had stayed remarkably dry in its casing, even revealing viable film when opened. While they didn't capture Nessie, the photos that surfaced after the film was developed give those of us on land a glimpse of the murky depths of Loch Ness. The camera—which (along with the photos it took) is now on display in the Loch Ness Centre in Drumnadrochit, home to the Loch Ness Project—was not found in the deepest part of the lake. At a maximum depth of 230 meters (755 feet), the water could still potentially be hiding things. Many investigations have tried to find out what, if anything, might have fueled rumors that led to the notorious photo of the 'monster' and other attempts to prove Nessie's existence. A 2019 attempt at extracting the DNA of all living species in those waters, for instance, found no evidence of a prehistoric, plesiosaur-esque marine reptile. No evidence of a Greenland shark (a species that can live up to 500 years) showed up either. The suspicion that Nessie could have actually been an overgrown catfish or sturgeon was also ruled out. What a research team from New Zealand did find was DNA from European eels. While these creatures are nowhere near the enormity of the fabled Nessie, there was no way of knowing the size of those in Loch Ness. It is possible that some of them could have grown to be behemoths in the absence of much competition for food. If Nessie really is an outsized eel, that could explain the long neck—though a previous study did assert that the popular theory wasn't the answer. But the potential for monsters isn't the only reason to keep exploring. The NOC, which has been making advances in developing autonomous vehicles for 30 years, keeps testing the craft in Loch Ness regardless of whether or not something that could pass for Nessie shows up. The latest Autosubs, which had a trial run, are used for long-distance autonomous operations and mapping the ocean floor—so far, only 26% of the ocean floor has been mapped. The deepest regions of our oceans (and other large bodies of water) are alien places where unknown creatures might just be waiting to be discovered. So long as the legend of Nessie lives on, even if there is no cryptid, investigators will keep sending robots underwater to see what—if anything—might be lurking in the loch. You Might Also Like The Do's and Don'ts of Using Painter's Tape The Best Portable BBQ Grills for Cooking Anywhere Can a Smart Watch Prolong Your Life?
Telegraph
06-03-2025
- Science
- Telegraph
The best time to spot ‘Nessie', according to University of St Andrews
The Loch Ness monster has forever remained elusive – but now one of Britain's leading universities has found that the best time to spot the mysterious creature is on a sunny summer's day. A study by the University of St Andrews used a database of 'Nessie' sighting reports to translate anecdotes about the creature into data and identify patterns of when it seemingly appeared. Researchers found sightings of the monster spiked during the summer months when weather conditions were 'excellent', with the most taking place during August around midday. The number of people claiming to have spotted the creature significantly dipped during the winter months and in the evenings. In addition, the vast majority of sightings took place when weather conditions were calm and still, with no wind or very light winds. The researchers also found second-hand reports of sightings tended to be exaggerated, with the monster being closer and larger compared with accounts given by people who had claimed to have seen it themselves. A team from the university's Centre for Research into Ecological and Environmental Modelling collaborated with Adrian Shine, of the Loch Ness Project in Drumnadrochit, for the study. They analysed 1,433 alleged 'Nessie' encounters from 1850 onwards, including 641 first-hand reports, with their findings published in the Journal of Statistics and Data Science Education. The average duration of the encounters was 'surprisingly long' at four-and-a-half minutes, suggesting that the monster is not 'contrary perhaps to popular belief, generated by misperception or misinterpretation caused by a brief glimpse of an object'. While the researchers admitted that their study did not prove the monster's existence, they said it highlighted the power of statistical thinking in evaluating anecdotal evidence. Dr Charles Paxton, of St Andrews, said: 'We cannot reach conclusions about Loch Ness monsters from these collected accounts, but we can draw insights about the wider population of Loch Ness monster reports. 'Nessies are mainly reported in the summer months, during the day as opposed to the night – with a dip at lunchtimes – and under excellent weather conditions.' Referring to the conclusion that second-hand reports tended to be exaggerated, he said: 'These patterns might be generated by the monsters themselves, but more likely reflect the availability of witnesses and the tendency for stories to be distorted in retelling.' The first recorded sighting of the monster came in the 6th century, with an account of a Loch Ness water beast in a biography of St Columba, the Catholic missionary. It was spotted again in the 12th century by Walter of Bingham, a minor English cleric, who drew a picture of a bear-like sea creature with fire coming from its eyes. There were several sightings in the 1930s, which were covered relentlessly by newspapers, with interest becoming global. The most famous image of the monster, showing a serpentine head and neck emerging from the water, was published in 1934, although it is now generally agreed that it was an elaborate hoax. Earlier this week, the first potential Loch Ness Monster sighting of 2025 was reported, with images showing a 'black mass' under the water. It appeared for several minutes in 'absolutely perfect conditions' at the loch's Dores Beach.
