The article discusses the fictional creatures Godzilla and King Kong, comparing their characteristics to real-life science. It highlights the biological and physical limitations of these creatures, making it impossible for them to exist in reality. Godzilla, a 108-meter tall lizard, would require 215 million calories a day to survive and its body would not be adapted to Earth's gravity. King Kong, a giant gorilla, would also face significant physical limitations, including a disproportionately small skull and brain, and the inability to withstand its own mass.
The article also explores the origins of these characters, with Godzilla's name coming from a combination of Japanese words for gorilla and whale, and King Kong's inspiration from a book about African tribes and their encounters with gorillas. However, the article notes that while these creatures may not be viable in reality, they continue to capture our imagination and entertain us in movies.
Here are the key facts extracted from the text:
1. 36 feature films have been made about Godzilla.
2. Four of the Godzilla films were made in Hollywood, while the rest were made by the Japanese TV studio Toho.
3. The script of all the Godzilla films is based on the tragedy of Hiroshima and Nagasaki.
4. Godzilla's real name is Gojira, which comes from the combination of two Japanese words: gorilla and whale.
5. Godzilla is 355 feet tall, slightly taller than London's Big Ben.
6. Godzilla weighs about 90,000 tons, half the supply of gold ever mined by mankind.
7. Godzilla cannot be killed with weapons of mass destruction.
8. Godzilla's body would not be adapted to the Earth's gravity, and its heart would not be able to pump blood effectively.
9. Godzilla's bones would be affected by the force of gravity, and it would likely suffer from serious back problems.
10. King Kong is 31.4 meters tall, and its weight is 108 tons, approximately 18 times heavier than an elephant.
11. According to paleobiologist Jonathan Payne, King Kong is not a physically viable organism, and its skeleton and muscles would not be able to withstand its mass.
12. A new species of parasitic wasp, Microgaster godzilla, was discovered in Japan, which can swim underwater and lay eggs in other insects.
13. The wasp's name is inspired by Godzilla, as it emerges from water to wreak havoc on its hosts.
14. The book "A Journey to Inner Africa" by Paul Du Chaillu, published in 1861, contains a story about a gorilla that attacked two women from the Umbandemo tribe.
15. The book's author was one of the first researchers to document facts about gorillas and their behavior.
16. The story from the book inspired the director Marion C. Cooper to create the original King Kong film in 1933.