The platypus is a fascinating creature from the family called monotremes. There is a lot left to be discovered about these animals and in part 1 we hear about the challenges in studying them. Part 2 will explore the features that make them unique. Our guest is Dr. Gilad Bino.
George Kearsley Shaw: science meets the platypus
What are monotremes?
The amazing penis of the echidna!
Lots of cool photos of platypus biological features 
Maps of complex platypus nesting burrows
The Platy-Project (citizen science initiative)


﻿This episode is brought to you by BetterHelp. Give online therapy a try at betterhelp.com/monstertalk and get on your way to being your best self.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

271 - The Peculiar Platypus

MonsterTalk: The Science Show About Monsters is a free audio podcast that critically examines the science behind cryptozoological (and legendary) creatures, such as Bigfoot, the Loch Ness Monster, or werewolves.

Society & Culture

Personal Journals

History

Philosophy

Places & Travel

Natural Sciences

Science & Medicine

Science

This week we take a look at some recent news stories that fall within our bailiwick. We've got big cats, big-not-really-cats, and some UFO data to discuss. (with Matt Baxter.)
Note - check out the articles for images of the "Thylacine", especially the Reddit thread and Galante's video.
Tasmanian Tiger:
Forrest Galante's YT Video
Coverage in Newsweek
Reddit readers have a go at the photos
Alien Big Cat in UK
BBC says DNA confirms big cat in UK
Local news coverage
2023 article with similar findings
UFO Hotspot Analysis
Axios story about the analysis
NUFORC's website
Data Analyst considers this data
Cool - NUFORC uses an old missile silo as HQ??
About NUFORC (Wiki)
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S03E34 British Lions and Tasmanian Tigers

This week we're going to take a quick peek behind the curtains as to how THE SCIENCE OF MONSTERS came to be published by MonsterHouse, and what you can find inside. Sales of the book directly help the show, and all of that is explained during our MonsterTalking.
The Science of Monsters - paperback & kindle
The many lives of Joe Nickell
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S03E33 - Behind The Science of Monsters

Blake and Karen are joined by Matt Baxter to discuss the new horror film Late Night with the Devil (AMZ affiliate link), a fictional work that draws very heavily from "real" paranormal history to anchor its verisimilitude. 
Trailer for LNwtD
Don Lane vs Randi incident
CSICOP

Randi vs James Hydrick
Randi vs Popov
Randi and Don Lane incident
Randi
Michelle Remembers
Anton LaVey
Jim Jones
Branch Davidians
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S03E32 - Late Night with the Devil

In this episode we talk with professor Jason Josephson-Storm about the concept of Disenchantment, why it's an important and influential concept, and why it is also a pervasive myth. 

The Dialectic of Enlightenment by Max Horkheimer and Theodor W. Adorno
Max Weber
The Golden Bough by James Frazer 
Deadly Words by by Jeanne Favret-Saada

Our coverage of the homunculus - way back in episode 53!
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

S03E31 - The Myth of Disenchantment

Is Bigfoot making peculiar stacks of bones in the forests of Mt. St. Helens? Archaeologist Andy White joins us to discuss the hypothesis that was the topic of a research paper by a Bigfoot proponent Mitchell Townsend.
Andy's website (and response to Townsend's claims)
Andy also has a YOUTUBE CHANNEL.
Taphonomy
Bigfoot proponent Townsend has been on Coast-to-Coast-AM more than once, where he also promoted his ideas about hidden images in stones.
Mitchell's ideas are VERY reminiscent of the Richard Shaver work which we described as both apophenia and art.
Learn more about your ad choices. Visit megaphone.fm/adchoices

271 - The Peculiar Platypus

Download our free app to listen on your phone