The Science of Monsters

A tribe of subterranean creatures who surface on Cannock Chase to hunt for food could be behind a rash of “werewolf” and Bigfoot sightings near Stafford. And the mysterious beings could also be responsible for a string of pet disappearances, it has been claimed. West Midlands Ghost Club, our area’s top paranormal investigation group, say they have been contacted by a number of shocked eye-witnesses who claim they have come to face to face with a “hairy, wolf-type creature” at the beauty spot. A scout leader and a local post man are amongst the “credible” witnesses to contact the club. Theories behind the sightings range from a crazed tramp to aliens. But now another paranormal expert has put forward the theory the sub-human beast is not a werewolf at all—but a Stone Age throwback. The investigator, who wishes to remain anonymous, told us: “Strange sightings in this area have been made over many years by civilians, military, police, ex-police and scout leaders on patrol. Some incidents have been reported and logged but others not—some people don’t want to be classed as ‘mad.’ The strangest rumour has come from a senior local resident who believes the mysterious intruders to be subterranean,” he told us. “The creatures have made their way to the surface via old earthworks to hunt, for example, local deer.”

Are there examples of human adaptations to survive their environments like in The Descent? According to geneticists at Stanford, “All genetic mutations start out random, but those that are beneficial to an organism’s success in their environment are directly selected for and quickly perpetuate throughout the population, providing a uniform, traceable signature.”² When an environmental stress is constant and lasts for many generations, successful adaptation may develop through biological evolution. For example, humans adapted biologically to their climates. Those who live in tropical climates tended to be tall and lean in order to lose heat while those in arctic climates tended to be short and wide to conserve heat.³

Humans have also adapted their circadian rhythms to adapt to life throughout the world.⁴ Body temperature, blood pressure, and sleep and wake cycles are time-based and change in a cyclical manner. Circadian rhythms have been able to change in people as they migrate to new parts of the globe. We experience disturbances in our circadian rhythms when we travel and feel jet lag as do people with schizophrenia, bipolar disorder, depression, seasonal affective disorder, and autism.

Another way we are able to adapt is through acclimatization. The human body can adjust to altitude differences when traveling in the mountains. During acclimatization, over a few days to weeks, the body produces more red blood cells to counteract the lower oxygen saturation in blood in high altitudes. Full adaptation to high altitude is reached when the increase of red blood cells reaches a plateau and stops. Those who live in high altitudes, such as Tibet, have adaptations that make it easier for them to live in those conditions year-round. The changes specifically happen in oxygen respiration and blood circulation. When people who are not used to high altitudes travel in such areas, they may get altitude sickness which can consist of nausea, dizziness, and headaches. Those who have genetically adapted to altitude over several generations are part of the 2 percent of humans on Earth who can thrive under those conditions.

We are also able to adjust to pressure changes when diving deep underwater. Human adaptation to water can increase as dives or time in the water increase. When we are in water our bodies automatically trigger what’s called the diving response. Our heart rate slows, our blood vessels constrict, and our spleens contract. Studies have shown that the Bajau, a group of people indigenous to parts of Indonesia, have genetically enlarged spleens which enable them to free dive to depths of up to 230 feet. They can also hold their breath longer than most people.

Species ability to adapt to their environments is a truly awe-inspiring element of biological science. It has helped humans and other animals thrive under the Darwinian concept of natural selection. Though, this concept in the hands of a horror filmmaker becomes less awesome and more terrifying. If there is anything scarier than being in the dark, it is sharing that dark space with a dangerous creature who can see you.

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CHAPTER TWENTY-NINE

TREMORS

Year of Release: 1990

Director: Ron Underwood

Writer: Brent Maddock, S. S. Wilson

Starring: Kevin Bacon, Fred Ward

Budget: $11 million

Box Office: $16.6 million