Anti-ScienceScience

Weird Biology

The other day I posted about the puppies being birthed from a cat. Gillnei reported that it’s already old news in Brazil thank goodness, and bug_girl posted a link to info about the “cabbit,” often reported as a cat/rabbit hybrid. (I’m editing to add that reader Rav Winston just sent me this link to a story reporting that the blood tests came back on the doggy cats, and the verdict is: the woman is full of crap! I know you’re all shocked yet relieved that this mystery is finally solved. Thanks, Rav!)

Today I found a link to this (semi-)related story in the Village Voice about an interesting character who creates carnival freaks. His gallery of curiosities is infinitely amusing, with my favorite being the Mongolian giant death worm (pictured above). A few months ago I flirted with the idea of starting a museum of fictitious beasts, and this is exactly the sort of thing I would want to exhibit. Of course, that idea is on hold until my grant comes through.

Speaking of weird biology, check out Neat-o-Rama’s five random facts about famous biologists. The rundown: Gregor Mendel failed his teacher’s exam, the shape of Darwin’s nose almost prevented his trip to the Galapogas, Rosalind Franklin wasn’t snubbed by the Nobel Prize committee because she was dead, Albert Hoffman discovered LSD and then promptly ate it, and Leonard Hayflick had to fight hard to overturn years of dogma concerning the mortality of cells.

Rebecca Watson

Rebecca is a writer, speaker, YouTube personality, and unrepentant science nerd. In addition to founding and continuing to run Skepchick, she hosts Quiz-o-Tron, a monthly science-themed quiz show and podcast that pits comedians against nerds. There is an asteroid named in her honor. Twitter @rebeccawatson Mastodon mstdn.social/@rebeccawatson Instagram @actuallyrebeccawatson TikTok @actuallyrebeccawatson YouTube @rebeccawatson BlueSky @rebeccawatson.bsky.social

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8 Comments

  1. "A few months ago I flirted with the idea of starting a museum of fictitious beasts, and this is exactly the sort of thing I would want to exhibit. Of course, that idea is on hold until my grant comes through."

    Let's be honest here, Rebecca. You just really want a life-sized unicorn doll, don't you?

  2. Dude, who wouldn't?

    It's funny how many discoveries, especially artificial sweeteners, happen when scientists screw up in the lab and accidentally taste their products. Molecule of the Day has commented on the phenomenon multiple times. Sounds like LSD was the same way. Good times, those chemists have!

  3. Superman already has a gallery of fictitious beasts, infact being that he's not real himself he has a fictional fictitious gallery….

  4. Well then there is also that whole man of steel woman of kleenex thing…. I don't know how to artfully work that in but it's worth mentioning in any conversation.

  5. I very much recommend Borges' Book of Imaginary Beings, which a quick Google reveals someone has added illustrations to here (although I'm not sure from which version it is derived because there were several). You may also like the whole "Cabinet of curiosities" thing also.

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