The search for Nessie heats up

Almost a century ago, the Loch Ness Monster emerged into modern consciousness. “The biggest search for the Loch Ness monster in 50 years is about to kick off. Enthusiasts will be armed with drones and underwater acoustic devices, which have never been used to look for the mythical beast.” Quartz

Famous old photo of Nessie. Generally seen as a hoax, the original image remains controversial (as noted in the Wikipedia article.) It is difficult to comment on it without reference to this visual image.

Nessie is perhaps the most famous of the cryptids. Cryptids, elusive beasts science cannot confirm, are fascinating. Bigfoot is my favorite, though after decades with no solid evidence, I have to say, my hope for the big ape has dwindled.

Loch Ness is the second-largest and second-deepest loch in Scotland, so a thorough search may yield some nifty finds, even if no plesiosaurs turn up. I’ll be interested to see the results.

I suspect that cable TV’s appetite for mysteries (even old ones with plausible explanations) helps keep crytids alive, and the appeal is undeniable. For me, more-and-more reports of crytids in more-and-more places makes them seem less-likely to be real. If so many people see so many of them in so many places… why no tangible, undeniable proof?

One of my favorite places to learn about cryptids is the Skeptoid podcast. I like how the host searches for original source material and tracks his topics through their history.