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From aliens and monsters to mermaids and holy fish, we interpret the unusual in our world according to what we find familiar in our culture. Meanwhile, our interest in the unfamiliar can whip up a storm of misleading speculation and spectacle in the media.
Join us to explore some examples and explanations of weird and wonderful reporting from the past and present, that say more about our society and our brains than about the supernatural and otherworldly.
Paolo is a natural history curator at the Horniman Museum and Gardens in south east London. He is Chair of the Natural Sciences Collections Association and occasional Scientific Consultant for the BBC. In his spare time Paolo blogs, gives talks and helps run online biology Q&A site Ask A Biologist. He also runs the monthly science communication event ‘Science in the Pub’.