@charlespaxton4.bsky.social
Statistical and aquatic ecologist, and very occasionally an historian of sea monsters. I also teach scientific thinking.
A new Nessie doc, with (unusually) interviews with scientists who actually have published papers in cryptozoology!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aezT...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aezT...
IFLScience Investigates The Loch Ness Monster: The Science, Story, And Power Of Belief
YouTube video by IFLScience
www.youtube.com
October 31, 2025 at 9:12 AM
A new Nessie doc, with (unusually) interviews with scientists who actually have published papers in cryptozoology!
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aezT...
www.youtube.com/watch?v=aezT...
Just received
"Dear Dr. Monstrum,
I’m reaching out to invite you to consider joining the editorial board of Academia Animal and Veterinary Science, an upcoming Open Access peer-reviewed journal from Academia.edu Journals. "
Actually I rather like being called "Dr Monstrum"
"Dear Dr. Monstrum,
I’m reaching out to invite you to consider joining the editorial board of Academia Animal and Veterinary Science, an upcoming Open Access peer-reviewed journal from Academia.edu Journals. "
Actually I rather like being called "Dr Monstrum"
Academia.edu - Find Research Papers, Topics, Researchers
Academia.edu is the platform to share, find, and explore 50 Million research papers. Join us to accelerate your research needs & academic interests.
Academia.edu
October 29, 2025 at 3:34 PM
Just received
"Dear Dr. Monstrum,
I’m reaching out to invite you to consider joining the editorial board of Academia Animal and Veterinary Science, an upcoming Open Access peer-reviewed journal from Academia.edu Journals. "
Actually I rather like being called "Dr Monstrum"
"Dear Dr. Monstrum,
I’m reaching out to invite you to consider joining the editorial board of Academia Animal and Veterinary Science, an upcoming Open Access peer-reviewed journal from Academia.edu Journals. "
Actually I rather like being called "Dr Monstrum"
Latest article: This may make me unpopular in the scientific skeptical movement but it should not do...
skepticalinquirer.org/2025/10/weir...
skepticalinquirer.org/2025/10/weir...
Weird Things Some Scientific Skeptics Say about Science | Skeptical Inquirer
Despite their commitment to critical thinking and evidence-based approaches to solving problems, some otherwise very clear-thinking skeptics occasionally pr ...
skepticalinquirer.org
October 27, 2025 at 4:26 PM
Latest article: This may make me unpopular in the scientific skeptical movement but it should not do...
skepticalinquirer.org/2025/10/weir...
skepticalinquirer.org/2025/10/weir...
Reposted
I am opposed to AI products and services because of the extra power they require... IN A CLIMATE CRISIS. I am opposed to AI results - texts and illustrations - because they've been created unethically, via theft and non-consensual use of the work of others. Share if you agree.
September 7, 2025 at 10:16 AM
I am opposed to AI products and services because of the extra power they require... IN A CLIMATE CRISIS. I am opposed to AI results - texts and illustrations - because they've been created unethically, via theft and non-consensual use of the work of others. Share if you agree.
A well rounded article from the Daily Mail(!) on our recent research on Nessie
www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/...
If you want the original article it can be found here.
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lKArabuHw...
www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/...
If you want the original article it can be found here.
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lKArabuHw...
Those who spot the Loch Ness Monster are telling the truth, study says
Nessie spotters are telling the truth and really do see humps in the loch, a jaw-dropping new study has revealed.
www.dailymail.co.uk
July 7, 2025 at 11:44 AM
A well rounded article from the Daily Mail(!) on our recent research on Nessie
www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/...
If you want the original article it can be found here.
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lKArabuHw...
www.dailymail.co.uk/sciencetech/...
If you want the original article it can be found here.
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lKArabuHw...
New paper by Adrian Shine and myself. A cultural exploration of aquatic monsters with an unexpected twist about eyewitness testimony.
Hoops, loops and eyewitness reliability: a history of biologically impossible aquatic monsters.
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lKArabuHw...
Hoops, loops and eyewitness reliability: a history of biologically impossible aquatic monsters.
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lKArabuHw...
June 25, 2025 at 8:37 AM
New paper by Adrian Shine and myself. A cultural exploration of aquatic monsters with an unexpected twist about eyewitness testimony.
Hoops, loops and eyewitness reliability: a history of biologically impossible aquatic monsters.
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lKArabuHw...
Hoops, loops and eyewitness reliability: a history of biologically impossible aquatic monsters.
authors.elsevier.com/a/1lKArabuHw...
What to know about the history of sea serpents with loops? Coming very soon.
June 24, 2025 at 6:59 AM
What to know about the history of sea serpents with loops? Coming very soon.
From ChatGPt
"Cryptozoology, as practiced by Charles Paxton, is not pseudoscience."
Nice to know.
"Cryptozoology, as practiced by Charles Paxton, is not pseudoscience."
Nice to know.
June 22, 2025 at 3:52 PM
From ChatGPt
"Cryptozoology, as practiced by Charles Paxton, is not pseudoscience."
Nice to know.
"Cryptozoology, as practiced by Charles Paxton, is not pseudoscience."
Nice to know.
How do witnesses report biologically impossible sea monsters....coming soon.
June 21, 2025 at 8:53 AM
How do witnesses report biologically impossible sea monsters....coming soon.
I'm a big fan of the "sea monster upsets people in rowing boat" art motif. Here is an example I just discovered.
June 17, 2025 at 7:39 AM
I'm a big fan of the "sea monster upsets people in rowing boat" art motif. Here is an example I just discovered.
Just discovered there was a Peterhead fishing vessel in 1888 called "Princess of Thule" which has a really Edgar Rice Burroughs ring to it. "Princess of Ultima Thule" would be even cooler though.
June 16, 2025 at 6:24 AM
Just discovered there was a Peterhead fishing vessel in 1888 called "Princess of Thule" which has a really Edgar Rice Burroughs ring to it. "Princess of Ultima Thule" would be even cooler though.
The Monsters of the Deep exhibition at Aberdeen Art Gallery www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/AAGM/whats-a... originated by @tetzoo.bsky.social is great and well worth a trip if you are a monster fan.
Monsters of the Deep: Science Fact or Fiction? | Aberdeen City Council
Get ready to discover monsters!
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk
June 5, 2025 at 9:02 AM
The Monsters of the Deep exhibition at Aberdeen Art Gallery www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/AAGM/whats-a... originated by @tetzoo.bsky.social is great and well worth a trip if you are a monster fan.
I am giving a talk 12.30 pm tomorrow at Aberdeen art gallery www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/AAGM/plan-yo... as part of the Monsters of the Deep designed by @tetzoo.bsky.social . Come along if around.
Aberdeen Art Gallery | Aberdeen City Council
Aberdeen Art Gallery is home to one of the finest collections in the country.
www.aberdeencity.gov.uk
June 3, 2025 at 12:20 PM
I am giving a talk 12.30 pm tomorrow at Aberdeen art gallery www.aberdeencity.gov.uk/AAGM/plan-yo... as part of the Monsters of the Deep designed by @tetzoo.bsky.social . Come along if around.
Many of us more skeptical cryptozoologists, think that some aspects of cz reports are driven by culture, indeed @tetzoo.bsky.social and I have published on this...however Adrian Shine and I have a new study out fairly soon that implies in one case, witnesses have NOT been influenced by culture....
May 14, 2025 at 10:08 AM
Many of us more skeptical cryptozoologists, think that some aspects of cz reports are driven by culture, indeed @tetzoo.bsky.social and I have published on this...however Adrian Shine and I have a new study out fairly soon that implies in one case, witnesses have NOT been influenced by culture....
Reposted
On the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, we thought we'd answer a question that's often asked,
"If they raised the Mary Rose, why not raise the Titanic?"
Allow our scaled diagram to explain...
"If they raised the Mary Rose, why not raise the Titanic?"
Allow our scaled diagram to explain...
April 15, 2025 at 8:21 AM
On the anniversary of the sinking of the Titanic, we thought we'd answer a question that's often asked,
"If they raised the Mary Rose, why not raise the Titanic?"
Allow our scaled diagram to explain...
"If they raised the Mary Rose, why not raise the Titanic?"
Allow our scaled diagram to explain...
Interesting report from Reuters about what happens when fishery scientists are sacked for "savings" and to prevent "overregulation".
www.reuters.com/world/us/how...
www.reuters.com/world/us/how...
How Trump’s regulatory freeze is disrupting the US fishing industry
From the Atlantic to Alaska, fishermen say overfishing and fleet delays are shaking up a $320 billion industry.
www.reuters.com
March 23, 2025 at 7:42 PM
Interesting report from Reuters about what happens when fishery scientists are sacked for "savings" and to prevent "overregulation".
www.reuters.com/world/us/how...
www.reuters.com/world/us/how...
Nice review by @tetzoo.bsky.social at tetzoo.com/blog/2025/3/... of my collaborator Adrian Shine's rather good new book on sea serpents. I agree with everything he says except I am not wholly convinced by Adrian's explanation for the Valhalla sea serpent.
tetzoo.com
March 23, 2025 at 9:54 AM
Nice review by @tetzoo.bsky.social at tetzoo.com/blog/2025/3/... of my collaborator Adrian Shine's rather good new book on sea serpents. I agree with everything he says except I am not wholly convinced by Adrian's explanation for the Valhalla sea serpent.
On the plus side, it would be good for the planet if all the Trumpeters start buying Teslas out of tribalism. Let's face it, they would not have bought an electric car otherwise.
March 23, 2025 at 9:48 AM
On the plus side, it would be good for the planet if all the Trumpeters start buying Teslas out of tribalism. Let's face it, they would not have bought an electric car otherwise.
Reposted
Now accepting applicants for 25-26 intake of our #StatisticalEcology MSc: bit.ly/3ooHNyc. A unique opportunity to develop skills at the interface of #statistics and #ecology (some partial scholarships available too). Please help me share!
January 29, 2025 at 8:53 PM
Now accepting applicants for 25-26 intake of our #StatisticalEcology MSc: bit.ly/3ooHNyc. A unique opportunity to develop skills at the interface of #statistics and #ecology (some partial scholarships available too). Please help me share!
There is a documentary entitled "Mysteries of Loch Ness" this Sunday on Channel 4. It might mention some upcoming surprising research of Paxton and Shine about the nature of Nessie testimony. The paper is due out soon.
January 23, 2025 at 3:09 PM
There is a documentary entitled "Mysteries of Loch Ness" this Sunday on Channel 4. It might mention some upcoming surprising research of Paxton and Shine about the nature of Nessie testimony. The paper is due out soon.
Early publication of a paper by Adrian Shine, Valentin Popov and myself on the statistical use of anecdotes with some interesting stats about the Loch Ness Monster.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
Identifying Biases and the Relevant Statistical Population: the Case of the Loch Ness Monster
We used a database of Loch Ness Monster reports to show university level students how important it is to think about bias and the identification of the correct statistical population. The Loch Ness...
www.tandfonline.com
January 18, 2025 at 7:54 AM
Early publication of a paper by Adrian Shine, Valentin Popov and myself on the statistical use of anecdotes with some interesting stats about the Loch Ness Monster.
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
www.tandfonline.com/doi/full/10....
I think gold open access and APCs are a corrosive influence on science and so by preference I do not publish using them. Unfortunately many institutions assume as a default that GOA is your preference. Has anyone any experience of bucking the system here?
January 15, 2025 at 1:14 PM
I think gold open access and APCs are a corrosive influence on science and so by preference I do not publish using them. Unfortunately many institutions assume as a default that GOA is your preference. Has anyone any experience of bucking the system here?
@doctoratlantis.bsky.social If this squid really is 10 m long it may have a mantle length possibly sufficient for me to win our bet (the exact terms of which I canna remember though).
www.mirror.co.uk/travel/europ.... I am trying to find out.
www.mirror.co.uk/travel/europ.... I am trying to find out.
Scientists baffled as huge giant squid washes up on popular Spanish beach
A ginormous squid measuring a staggering 10 metres has washed up on a picturesque beach loved by locals, in a small town in Spain and has left scientists baffled
www.mirror.co.uk
December 3, 2024 at 8:34 PM
@doctoratlantis.bsky.social If this squid really is 10 m long it may have a mantle length possibly sufficient for me to win our bet (the exact terms of which I canna remember though).
www.mirror.co.uk/travel/europ.... I am trying to find out.
www.mirror.co.uk/travel/europ.... I am trying to find out.