Scientists have found an important argument in the case of the Loch Ness Monster

New scientific study sheds light on what is or rather is not known Loch Ness monster from Scotland. The report contained in JMIRx Bioscientist Flo Foxon investigates whether the monster could be a giant eel.

Using previous estimates of the monster’s size to predict the likelihood of finding a similarly sized large eel, the study found that giant eels could not explain sightings of larger animals in Loch Ness, a freshwater lake in the Scottish Highlands.

The odds of finding a meter-long eel in Loch Ness are about 1 in 50,000, according to the study, which could explain some of the sightings of the smaller, unknown creatures. However, the probability of finding much larger eels is practically zero, which refutes the theory that giant eels are the largest animals observed.

While recognizing the potential presence of large eels in the lake, the study concludes that purely statistical considerations do not support the existence of exceptionally large eels.

“In this new work by the Society for Popular Zoology, a much-needed level of scientific rigor and data is brought to a subject that would otherwise be as slippery as an eel. Contrary to popular belief, the intersection of folklore and zoology lends itself to scientific analysis and can provide valuable information about anthropozoological phenomena. This article also makes a case for open access to science and non-traditional publishing: the future of scientific publishing,” says author Flow Foxon.