NASA joins hunt for Loch Ness Monster in new quest
9:07 AM EDT, April 13, 2024
The American space agency has enlisted NASA to aid in the forthcoming search for the enigmatic Loch Ness Monster. According to Sky News, the endeavour is set to commence on May 29, marking 90 years since the initially organized expedition aimed at unravelling the mystery of the elusive entity.
The next quest for the Loch Ness Monster
"We are hoping that Nessie hunters worldwide will help us reach the people at NASA. We are hoping to reach them through the power of social media. We are just hoping for their expert guidance to help with our ongoing quest to get answers," explained Aimee Todd from the Loch Ness Centre.
The quest to decode the Loch Ness Monster mystery commenced in 1934, spearheaded by Edward Mountain. The official registry documents all reported sightings or sound evidence indicating the monster's presence and has amassed 1156 entries.
The most substantial search in half a century was launched in August of the previous year. This effort featured drones with infrared cameras and a hydrophone to detect atypical underwater noises. Around 200 volunteers participated on-site, while 300 individuals kept track of the live feed on their computers. During this operation, a group detected four unexplained sounds, yet they failed to capture recordings, leaving the Loch Ness Monster's mystery intact.
Since that revelation, the enigma of Nessie has inspired countless books, television shows, and movies, significantly boosting tourism. Intriguingly, the legend traces back to the Middle Ages, with tales of Irish monk St. Columba encountering a beast in the River Ness.
In 1972, the Loch Ness Investigation Bureau researched the monster's existence. Nevertheless, the bureau disbanded in 1977, having found no conclusive evidence. Successive efforts included Operation Deepscan in 1987, where 24 boats with echo sounders canvassed the lake entirely. On three occasions, they detected anomalies that remained unexplained.
In 2019, scientists hypothesized that sightings attributed to the Loch Ness Monster might involve giant eels. New Zealand researchers aimed to catalogue the lake's biodiversity via DNA analysis of water samples. Their findings debunked theories that large animals, like prehistoric aquatic reptiles or substantial fish, such as sturgeons, were the sources of monster sightings.
Loch Ness is the largest freshwater lake in Scotland by volume, holding more water—approximately 1.96 trillion gallons—than all the lakes in England and Wales combined.
