Atmospheric Beasts: Mysterious Creatures of the Sky

 Atmospheric Beasts: Mysterious Creatures of the Sky

What Are Atmospheric Beasts?

Atmospheric beasts, sometimes called sky beasts or air critters, are cryptozoological creatures hypothesized to live in the skies of Earth or even other planets. Unlike typical winged creatures, atmospheric beasts are thought to be light enough to float or fly without wings, their bodies filled with gases lighter than air. These ethereal beings are often described as "living balloons" and are depicted as somewhat gelatinous, almost like jellyfish in the sky.

This concept gained attention through discussions by Carl Sagan, who speculated on creatures that could live within gas giants like Jupiter. These creatures would need to be structured like "hot hydrogen balloons" to remain afloat in such dense atmospheres, supporting the idea that extraterrestrial life could adapt to diverse environments.

Speculative Origins and Characteristics

1. Earthbound or Extraterrestrial?

   • Some believe atmospheric beasts are native to Earth, while others see them as extraterrestrial organisms originating in the atmospheres of gas planets or interstellar space. While typically imagined as non-sentient and animalistic, these creatures challenge our understanding of life, given that they might thrive in extreme conditions without needing a solid, earthbound habitat.

2. Physical Properties

   • Witness reports suggest that atmospheric beasts can alter their density, shifting from vaporous, cloud-like forms to more solid, metallic masses. They may even glow in some instances. These beings are also said to die upon contact with the ground, falling as gelatinous blobs that quickly evaporate—an anomaly sometimes linked to the Welsh phenomenon pwdre ser or “star jelly,” which appears as strange jelly-like substances that fall from the sky.

3. Cryptozoological and Folklore Context

   • Descriptions of atmospheric beasts range widely, some resembling massive, sky-dwelling whales and others appearing as shifting, animate clouds. In folklore, similar creatures appear under names like “Boneless” in England or “It” in the Shetland Islands, thought to be harmless creatures resembling animated fog patches. Unlike ordinary clouds, however, these beings exhibit peculiar behaviors like squirting water or moving with intent, convincing witnesses of their living nature.

Historical Accounts and Cultural References

• The Crawfordsville Monster
  Sighted in Indiana in 1891, the Crawfordsville Monster is among the earliest reports of atmospheric beasts. Witnesses described a large, misty, moving creature in the sky, initially classified as a dragon, though modern interpretations lean towards the atmospheric beast hypothesis.

• The Phenomenon of Star Jelly
  Tales of pwdre ser, or “rot from the stars,” date back centuries and often accompany atmospheric beast sightings. Reports from various cultures describe gelatinous substances appearing mysteriously after the sighting of strange creatures or UFO-like figures in the sky, lending credence to the belief in atmospheric beasts.

Theories and Cryptozoological Research

• Ivan T. Sanderson's Hypothesis
  Biologist Ivan T. Sanderson, a noted Bigfoot author, devoted a book to the idea that many UFO sightings could be low-density atmospheric beasts. According to Sanderson, these creatures might explain a range of otherwise mysterious aerial phenomena, behaving in ways that mimic or confound typical machine-like UFO sightings.

• Modern Interest and Related Creatures
  Interest in atmospheric beasts surged with the discovery of air rods—a similar cryptid thought to inhabit the atmosphere. While rods are small and fast-moving, atmospheric beasts are described as massive, slow-moving entities. This similarity has driven renewed investigation into older UFO and cryptid reports, as researchers reconsider the potential existence of such creatures.

Cultural Appearances and Pop Culture

1. Film and Literature
   • Atmospheric beasts make rare but notable appearances in fiction. Films like Dogora and Space Amoeba explore atmospheric creatures with planetary origins. In Star Trek: The Next Generation, atmospheric beasts also appear, depicted as space-dwelling life forms rather than UFOs or traditional extraterrestrials.
2. Analogies with Marine Life
   • Descriptions of atmospheric beasts often liken them to ocean-dwelling creatures, such as jellyfish or whales. The folklore surrounding these sky beasts sometimes suggests an atmospheric "ocean" above us, teeming with mysterious life adapted to this invisible sea.

Conclusion: Creatures of the Clouds or Flights of Fancy?

Whether atmospheric beasts are entities of folklore, misunderstood meteorological phenomena, or undiscovered creatures remains a topic of debate. Their semi-solid, shapeshifting nature and reported abilities make them unique in the world of cryptozoology, adding an extra layer of mystery to the skies. While modern science is cautious about such claims, the possibility of unique life forms in our atmosphere continues to inspire curiosity and wonder.

For those fascinated by cryptozoology, atmospheric beasts represent a boundary between science and myth—a reminder that the skies may still hold secrets beyond our current understanding.

Further Reading and References

• Budd, Deena West. The Weiser Field Guide to Cryptozoology
• Sanderson, Ivan T. Uninvited Visitors: A Biologist Looks at UFOs
• Wikipedia: Atmospheric Beasts, Star Jelly
• Clark, Jerome. Unexplained!