Skinwalker Ranch

On this episode of Expanded Perspectives the guys start off talking about Zenkerella insignis, the critter caught on Bioko, is one of the world's most ancient and mysterious mammals. Until now, it was known only by its fossils and 11 scattered specimens, many of which had been languishing in natural history collections for over 100 years. Researchers who were interested in the species (and there aren't many) had little to go on aside from a hind limb here, a few teeth there. No scientist in history has ever seen it alive. Then, according to biologist Elizabeth Congdon, an assistant professor at Bethune-Cookman University, the state of Florida could have a serious capybara problem—and it might be the fault of exotic pet owners. Then, it's been a year since two treasure hunters claimed to have found a Nazi gold train buried under Poland and yet no Nazi gold train has actually been produced. That isn't stopping a team of 35 people, who plan to resume the hunt Monday, Deutsche Welle reports. Then, care to learn more about 400-foot tsunamis on Mars? Now you can, after Nasa announced it is making all its publicly funded research available online for free. The space agency has set up a new public web portal called Pubspace, where the public can find Nasa-funded research articles on everything from the chances of life on one of Saturn’s moons to the effects of space station living on the hair follicles of astronauts. After the break Cam and Kyle talk about the iconic "Skinwalker Ranch". In northern Utah there exists a “ranch” so strange, so bizarre, that the National Institute for Discovery Science (owned by Las Vegas businessman and billionaire Bob Bigelow) purchased it solely for scientific research purposes. Located in the Uintah Basin near the town of Fort Duchesne, paranormal phenomenon such as strange creatures, bizarre objects, flying black triangles, animal mutilations, and telepathic messages, have been reported on the 480 acre Skinwalker Ranch for hundreds of years. It is estimated that over half the population in the area surrounding the ranch have witnessed unusual paranormal activity on, or near what became known as the “Strangest Place on Earth”. Even the local Ute Indians believe the land to be cursed – and tribe members are strictly forbidden to enter the property. Thanks for listening to Expanded Perspectives!

Show Notes:

• Scientist Finally Found Zenkerella, The World's Most Mysterious Mammal
• Florida About to be Swamped with Capybara
• Treasure Hunters to Finally Find That Nazi Gold Train, Maybe
• NASA Just Made All It's Research Available Online for Free
• Skinwalker Ranch

Music:

All music for Expanded Perspectives is provided by Pretty Lights. Purchase, Download and Donate at www.prettylightsmusic.com.

Songs Used:

• Pretty Lights vs. Led Zeppelin
• Understand Me Now
• Short Cut
• Sweet Long Life