004 - Cryptozoology vs. Discovery Ecology and eDNA

Support my work and keep it sustainable: ko-fi.com/evolioThe bigfoot cryptid monster makes for a really fun and enlightening example of how science is not supposed to work, despite what his proponents have to say about him. While cryptid monsters can be fun and whimsical, they and the search for them, a field known as cryptozoology, are also one of the most potent examples of pseudoscience. In this episode Zach and I explore the topic of cryptozoology, why it is a pseudoscience and what legitimate science actually looks like.---Created by: Ryan Pevey at evolio.org and Zach Jobe @zhjobeConcept: A science and comedy conversation about what philosophical bullshit is and how to detectit.Tools: DaVinci Resolve, GIMPIntro music by Maksym Malko from Pixabay (pixabay.com/music/upbeat-podcast-interview-music-254186/)Podcast streams:redcircle.com/shows/04ecc7a3-3383-4ca0-bff3-c55d04100ed5podcasts.apple.com/us/podcast/hidden-science-stories/id1874450380open.spotify.com/show/50xaIb6jjmSJv7georpfVt?si=16e6c0e030414593music.amazon.com/podcasts/b0415a99-f209-4c66-80c5-d8eb2b490811/hidden-science-stories---Citations:Bryan C. Sykes, Rhettman A. Mullis, Christophe Hagenmuller, Terry W. Melton, Michel Sartori; Genetic analysis of hair samples attributed to yeti, bigfoot and other anomalous primates. Proc Biol Sci 1 August 2014; 281 (1789): 20140161. doi.org/10.1098/rspb.2014.0161Li, X., D. Yang, L. Wang, and J. J. Wiens. 2025. The past and future of known biodiversity: Rates, patterns, and projections of new species over time. Science Advances 11:eadz3071. wienslab.com/Publications_files/Li_et_al._Sci_Adv_2025.pdfSmith, J.L.B. (1956), Old Fourlegs: The Story of the Coelacanth, Longmans. openlibrary.org/books/OL6196638M/Old_FourlegsNatural History Museum (London), "Coelacanths: The fish that 'outdid' the Loch Ness Monster" nhm.ac.uk/discover/coelacanths-the-fish-that-outdid-the-loch-ness-monster.htmlNatural History Museum (London) "What is environmental DNA (eDNA)?" nhm.ac.uk/discover/what-is-environmental-dna-edna.htmlCornell Chronicle, Jan. 2026, "Environmental DNA breakthrough will aid conservation efforts" news.cornell.edu/stories/2026/01/environmental-dna-breakthrough-will-aid-conservation-effortsSmithsonian Magazine "The Giant Squid: Dragon of the Deep" smithsonianmag.com/science-nature/the-giant-squid-dragon-of-the-deep-18784038/NPR, 2025, "Using eDNA to track world's biodiversity". npr.org/2025/05/22/g-s1-67081/environmental-dna-edna-air-track-biodiversityHill, Sharon A. Skeptical Inquirer: "Cryptozoology and Pseudoscience". skepticalinquirer.org/newsletter/cryptozoology-and-pseudoscience/0:00 Bigfoot13:13 A serious science debunking15:42 Famous cryptids24:27 Legitimate science efforts31:00 The coelacanth and lazarus species35:43 New species discoveries39:48 The Kraken45:10 Cyclops50:22 Paleomythology of the PNW58:04 eDNA1:03:59 Point of Optimism