Impossible Biology: A Scientist's Guide to Mythological Creatures

Impossible! Dragons, vampires, werewolves, mermaids - the list of mythological creatures living in our stories and legends can be made long. There they shall remain, living full and colourful lives that Mother Nature never saw fit to make reality. They do not exist, yet we could ask ourselves if they truly are impossible? In a captivating journey, we explore the seemingly impossible features of our most iconic mythological creatures. By seeking inspiration in our real world, we take on the challenge of completing a puzzle that was never meant to be designed, and in so doing we discover that life can be far stranger than legend. From fire spitting beetles, shape-shifting frogs, and constantly urinating vampires, our world is a breeding ground for the seemingly impossible. Dissecting the inner workings of these creatures will challenge our preconceptions about life, and force us to learn about a wide range of biological functions in an engaging and thought-provoking exercise in scientific reasoning. While mythological beasts may not be real, the ancient tapestry of evolution offers building blocks that make their incredible features appear less distant. Together we shall soon find that the impossible exists all around us.