To follow on from our post back in October "The Loch Ness monster, Britain's greatest monstrous mystery!" we have another Loch Ness related blog post and update on this fascinating mystery.
This weekend to mark the monster's first sighting 80 years ago a weekend symposium took place at Edinburgh science fesitval. "We are here today to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the first modern sighting." Gordon Rutter, biology teacher and one of the organisers
At the celebration 20 signalled their belief in the existence of the Loch Ness monster and 15 declared their disbelief. The rest sat did not cast their vote.
"I believe in a large, unidentified creature in the loch, possibly amphibious – that is, a fish that goes on land," said Roland Watson, author of Waterhorses of Loch Ness, who blogs as "Glasgow Boy".
"I think otters are responsible for some of the sightings, with their tails above the surface," countered Adrian Shine, naturalist on the Loch Ness Project. Having explored the depths in his tiny submarine, he could confidently run through a list of creatures who weren't the monster.
It was on 14 April 1933 that a local couple caught a glimpse of, well, whatever 'she' is. The first use of the words "Loch Ness monster" in a newspaper was on 2 May.
Rutter showed the first photograph, taken on 12 November. "The most common theory is that it looks like a dog which has just picked up a stick."
"The plural of anecdotes is not data," said Charles Paxton, the other organiser and a research fellow at the St Andrew's school of mathematics and statistics. The phenomenon he studies is the fact that a sighting has been reported, not its accuracy. Using an algorithm to handle 1,132 reports, he analysed how sightings fell into different types.
Perhaps unhelpfully, the largest cluster was made up of reports with negligible details. More positive findings came from his graph incorporating the curve of the discovery of new animals against time. "New freshwater animals are still being discovered," he said.
This was apparently the third symposium devoted entirely to Nessie, and it will not be the last. The beast from the depths has enthralled people since 565AD when St Columba cried out the name of the Lord to save a swimmer about to be devoured by the Loch Ness monster.
Well, I suggest at the earliest opportunity heading up to Scotland and checking out Loch Ness. Don't forget your camera and an open mind!
Source: The Guardian
This weekend to mark the monster's first sighting 80 years ago a weekend symposium took place at Edinburgh science fesitval. "We are here today to celebrate the 80th anniversary of the first modern sighting." Gordon Rutter, biology teacher and one of the organisers
At the celebration 20 signalled their belief in the existence of the Loch Ness monster and 15 declared their disbelief. The rest sat did not cast their vote.
"I believe in a large, unidentified creature in the loch, possibly amphibious – that is, a fish that goes on land," said Roland Watson, author of Waterhorses of Loch Ness, who blogs as "Glasgow Boy".
"I think otters are responsible for some of the sightings, with their tails above the surface," countered Adrian Shine, naturalist on the Loch Ness Project. Having explored the depths in his tiny submarine, he could confidently run through a list of creatures who weren't the monster.
It was on 14 April 1933 that a local couple caught a glimpse of, well, whatever 'she' is. The first use of the words "Loch Ness monster" in a newspaper was on 2 May.
Rutter showed the first photograph, taken on 12 November. "The most common theory is that it looks like a dog which has just picked up a stick."
"The plural of anecdotes is not data," said Charles Paxton, the other organiser and a research fellow at the St Andrew's school of mathematics and statistics. The phenomenon he studies is the fact that a sighting has been reported, not its accuracy. Using an algorithm to handle 1,132 reports, he analysed how sightings fell into different types.
Perhaps unhelpfully, the largest cluster was made up of reports with negligible details. More positive findings came from his graph incorporating the curve of the discovery of new animals against time. "New freshwater animals are still being discovered," he said.
This was apparently the third symposium devoted entirely to Nessie, and it will not be the last. The beast from the depths has enthralled people since 565AD when St Columba cried out the name of the Lord to save a swimmer about to be devoured by the Loch Ness monster.
Well, I suggest at the earliest opportunity heading up to Scotland and checking out Loch Ness. Don't forget your camera and an open mind!
Source: The Guardian
