Mermaids aren’t real – but they’ve fascinated people around the world for ages

_Curious Kids is a series for children of all ages. If you have a question you’d like an expert to answer, send it to [email protected]._ ------------------------- > ARE 

MERMAIDS REAL? – VERONA, AGE 9, OWENSBORO, KENTUCKY ------------------------- Mermaids – underwater creatures that are half fish and half human – do not exist except in people’s

imaginations. Scientists who study the ocean for the United States have investigated their possible existence and say no evidence of mermaids has ever been found. You might wonder why

government scientists looked into this question. There are many stories about mermaids on TV, the internet and in magazines that pretend to be real science news. They try to fool people into

believing mermaids are real, without any true evidence. This is called “cryptoscience” or “cryptozoology,” but it’s not real science. Don’t let intriguing stories deceive you about mermaids

and other fun but made-up creatures, like Bigfoot or the Loch Ness Monster. But just because mermaids are not real does not mean they are not meaningful. Mermaids, or merfolk as they are

sometimes called because not all of them are female, have a long history and are known all over the world – the same way dragons, fairies and unicorns are. MORE THAN ONE KIND OF MERMAID Some

of the earliest mermaid stories are part of ancient Greek mythology from over 3,000 years ago. The Greeks imagined lots of creatures that were part human and part animal, like harpies (bird

and human) and centaurs (horse and human). Sometimes their mermaids were good, like the Greek goddess Atargatis, who protected humans, but others were dangerous, like the Sirens, who sang

beautiful songs that made sailors crash their ships into rocks and sink. Irish mermaids, called “merrows,” which date back 1,000 years, were also considered a sign of bad luck. Mermaid

bodies have been imagined differently in different places. There’s a legendary Japanese mermaid called a “ningyo,” which is mostly a fish, but has a human face. Maybe you’ve seen the

animated film “Ponyo,” about a goldfish with a little girl’s face? In Europe, there were mermaids called “melusines” who had two fish tails. Stories about mermaids also varied depending on

where and when they were told. Only some are about mermaids falling in love and wanting to be human, like Ariel and Ponyo. In the storybook “Mermaids From Mars,” for instance, mermaids have

used up all the water on Mars and come to Earth to help people learn the lesson of water conservation. In a lot of places, mermaids were used as symbols of power and wealth. For example, the

city of Warsaw in Poland has a legend of a mermaid who is considered to be the protector of the city. There’s a huge statue of her there, and she is even featured on the city’s coat of

arms. Many castles in Europe also have mermaid symbols to demonstrate royal power and wealth – even in countries with no oceans, like Austria. WHY MERMAIDS? You may wonder how mermaids came

to be. Why did so many people around the world imagine them throughout history? It’s an interesting question that probably has more than one answer. Superstitious sailors, including

Christopher Columbus and others, reported seeing mermaids on their travels, but scientists and historians think they probably saw real animals, like manatees or seals. Throughout time,

people have often created stories to help explain all kinds of things they couldn’t understand at the time. Stories also help people understand their own dreams, desires and fears. Whatever

the reasons, people still clearly love mermaids. You can buy mermaid dolls, coloring books and costumes. You can find them on flags, coins and Starbucks coffee. At some aquariums and water

parks, real people perform as mermaids and have to practice holding their breath and keeping their eyes open underwater for a long time. There’s even a brand of cotton candy called “Mermaid

Farts,” which is described as “sweet and fluffy!” Even though mermaids are not really real, they can feed your imagination and creativity. Mermaids are also important because they are a

shared idea that has linked people together around the world for a very long time. ------------------------- _Hello, curious kids! Do you have a question you’d like an expert to answer? Ask

an adult to send your question to [email protected]. Please tell us your name, age and the city where you live._ _And since curiosity has no age limit – adults, let us know

what you’re wondering, too. We won’t be able to answer every question, but we will do our best._