00:00 Why can't mermaids be real? Well, firstly, they would freeze and struggle to survive
00:04 in the frigid ocean waters. Brrr! You know, those skinny Disney types would turn into
00:09 icicles! The truth is, the human body isn't built for prolonged aquatic adventures. I
00:15 mean, come on, who wants to hang out in bone-chilling depths? Sure, there are warmer spots near the
00:21 ocean surface, but if mermaids wanted to set up shop at the bottom of the deep blue, things
00:26 would get frosty real quick. Water temperature drops like a pop balloon the deeper you go.
00:33 So what would a cold-resistant mermaid look like? Hairy and big. Imagine a super fuzzy
00:39 aquatic mammal or an extra-plump mermaid rocking the underwater fashion scene. Not exactly
00:44 the image we had in mind, huh? Secondly, they just can't cherry-pick body
00:49 parts like in a mythical buffet. Mammals and fish play by different rules. Fish don't
00:55 have the warm-blooded hairy vibes that define mammals like us. It's like trying to merge
01:01 a human with a fish. Evolutionarily speaking, that's a big no-no. Our human lineage and
01:08 the fish clan took different paths long, long ago. They're distant relatives, like that
01:13 cousin you see at family reunions and awkwardly wave at from a distance. And don't even
01:19 get me started on digestive dilemmas. Fish and mammals have completely different plumbing
01:24 systems. When you imagine a mermaid with a mix of mammalian digestive powers and fishy
01:29 hindquarters, well, things just don't add up.
01:33 Let's dive deeper and separate fact from fishy fiction. If mermaids needed to swim
01:38 up to the surface for a gulp of fresh air, they'd require a blowhole instead of a regular
01:44 nose and mouth. You know, just like our crocodile friends with their handy nostrils. Breathing
01:49 underwater ain't no easy feat, my friends. Now, if mermaids were all about that aquatic
01:54 life, they'd either need gills that they curiously lack, or another clever way to supply
02:00 themselves with oxygen. Marine mammals have evolved anatomies that allow them to survive
02:05 those lengthy oceanic excursions. Human divers, on the other hand, have their lungs shrunk
02:11 in size when they go deeper due to the pressure. Some whale species have special rib cages
02:16 to protect their lungs during such moments. Plus, they've got that fancy myoglobin stuff
02:21 in their muscles and blood, which loves to cozy up with oxygen. Mermaids would need something
02:27 similar in their toolkits.
02:28 Now, let's not forget about those gangly human arms and fingers that serve us so well
02:34 on land. Hello, pizza time! Sadly, in the water realm, they're not ideal. If mermaids
02:41 had been around longer in evolutionary terms, maybe their arms would've undergone some
02:46 serious makeover.
02:48 If mermaids had a lengthier evolutionary history, those arms would need some adjustments, that's
02:53 for sure. Unless, of course, there was a good reason for their existence. Maybe their environment
02:58 would require them to be food-gathering aficionados rather than speedy swimmers. So, you see,
03:06 the mixture of human and marine anatomy may offer the worst of both worlds. The challenges
03:11 remain even if we reverse things, with human legs at the bottom and a fish head on top.
03:16 "Want to kiss the girl?" No. Gills for easy breathing? Handy indeed. Yet what about
03:23 those exposed human parts struggling to withstand the ocean's wintry charms?
03:29 The Fiji mermaid was a curiosity that gained popularity in sideshows during the 19th century.
03:35 It consisted of the torso and head of a juvenile monkey sewn onto the back half of a fish.
03:41 This peculiar object was presented as the mummified body of a creature believed to be
03:46 half mammal and half fish, resembling a mermaid. P.T. Barnum, the renowned showman, acquired
03:52 the mermaid and exhibited it in his American Museum in New York in 1842. The mermaid's
03:59 appearance, described by Barnum himself, departed from traditional depictions of mermaids as
04:04 attractive beings. Instead, it was described as an ugly, dried-up creature frozen in a
04:10 painful-looking pose. It was another hoax promoted in those times. I know, this sort
04:16 of breaks the spell. But if the water is going to get dangerously cold, then realistically,
04:22 mermaids would spend some time fattening up. Basically, they would look like sea lions.
04:27 It all comes down to the freezing temperatures of water at some point. This made me ask,
04:32 what if the ideal place for these ladies was underground caves and arctic waters? Well,
04:38 let me tell you a story. Once upon a time, mermaids discovered a wondrous
04:42 secret in the deep ocean depths, where sunlight could barely reach. In this realm of imagination
04:48 and possibility, they stumbled upon hidden underground springs and caves adorned with
04:54 intricate coral formations. These enchanting locations held a secret that would forever
05:00 change their underwater lives. As the mermaids ventured deeper into the mysterious subterranean
05:06 world, they were mesmerized by the shimmering light refracting through the crystal-clear
05:11 water. But it wasn't just the ethereal beauty that
05:14 captivated them. It was the realization that these hidden springs and caves offered more
05:20 than just aesthetic charm. These subterranean water systems were connected to vast underground
05:25 reservoirs, providing a bountiful source of fresh water. The mermaids reveled in the tranquility
05:31 of this land. The gentle sound of trickling water soothed their spirits, while the soft
05:36 glow from bioluminescent organisms illuminated their path.
05:41 News of the subterranean springs and caves spread among the mermaid community, and soon,
05:47 these sites became cherished gathering places. Mermaids would share stories and songs, their
05:52 melodious voices echoing through the caverns, creating an atmosphere of joy and enchantment.
05:59 There was another place where they could live happily – the icy Arctic and Antarctic regions,
06:04 where frost and snow reigned supreme. In this realm of imagination, the mermaids
06:09 had evolved to thrive in the extreme cold, defying the expectations of the underwater
06:15 world. Their resilience and remarkable abilities allowed them to navigate frozen environments.
06:21 In these frigid waters, the mermaids revealed their wondrous adaptation to the icy domain.
06:27 Their iridescent scales glistened like ice crystals, shimmering with hues of blue and
06:32 silver that mirrored the frozen landscapes around them. They possessed an innate ability
06:37 to regulate their body temperature, enabling them to withstand the biting cold and icy
06:42 currents. To navigate through the frozen terrain, the
06:46 mermaids developed special features. Their tails transformed, bearing a majestic combination
06:52 of sleekness and strength, resembling the magnificent flukes of the Arctic whales. With
06:58 each flick, they propelled themselves effortlessly through the dense icy waters, moving with
07:03 a grace that mesmerized everyone who saw them. Within this frozen wonderland, the mermaids
07:09 found solace and purpose. They became the guardians of these icy realms, nurturing delicate
07:15 ecosystems hidden beneath the frost-covered surface.
07:19 Okay, maybe this story is just one version of how reality could unfold, but we do have
07:25 real-life mermaids in our world. People admire these creatures so much that they create events
07:30 and communities to swim together while wearing costumes.
07:35 In the UK, there is a mesmerizing mermaid who is admired by a lot of people. Her name
07:40 is Hannah Caddick, also known as Mermaid Torva, and her tail showcases the vibrant colors
07:46 of the local sea life. The Portland Week event is organized to raise funds for an environmental
07:51 group, and Hannah, who resides on a nearby houseboat, is part of the growing community
07:56 of mermaids in the UK.
07:59 Like other mermaids, Hannah uses a monofin – a large single flipper that propels her
08:04 through the water. These monofins can be quite expensive, with silicone tails costing over
08:09 £2,000 and often being meticulously handcrafted. So, would you consider getting a tail and
08:16 joining this community, or would you prefer to be a spectator and watch them from the
08:21 shore?
08:22 And here's a short useful fact. Nowadays, when we hear the word "siren", we often
08:27 think of mermaids. But let's not forget that sirens were there to blur the line between
08:32 life and the beyond and to serenade everyone with an utterly irresistible song. While plenty
08:38 of water-dwelling temptresses are out there, the sirens were the real deal. They lured
08:44 sailors. But mermaids aren't the same as them. Mermaids are enchanting and nice creatures.
08:50 And these days, sirens are what you hear when fire trucks, ambulances, and police cars drive
08:55 by on their way to help someone.
08:57 That's it for today, so – hey! – if you pacified your curiosity, then give the
09:02 video a like and share it with your friends! Or, if you want more, just click on these
09:06 videos and stay on the Bright Side!
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