About this episode

Dan and Ciaran explore the reality of dragons through myths, science, and expert insights.

Dan and Ciaran open an archive case: Are dragons real? Why do stories of fire-breathing, winged beasts appear in cultures across the world – and can science explain their origins? We're on the quest for answers; from Viking myths to Chinese legends, dinosaur fossils, and even the lair of real-life Komodo dragons. Legendary author Cressida Cowell, dino-expert Nick Crumpton, and Chester Zoo’s own Komodo dragon keeper, Matthew Cook help unpick which mysteries are real and which ones are rubbish.  See omnystudio.com/listener for privacy information.

People in this episode

Hosts: Dan, Ciaran

Guests: Cressida Cowell, Nick Crumpton, Matthew Cook

Topics covered

• dragons
• myths
• science
• legends
• dinosaurs
• Komodo dragons

Mentioned in this episode

Organizations: Chester Zoo

Places: Viking, China

More episodes of Mysteries of Science

• What came first, the chicken or the egg? · March 26, 2026 · 21 min
• Where's Bigfoot? · February 26, 2026 · 30 min
• Deepfakes · January 29, 2026 · 20 min
• Undercover in Area 51 · January 4, 2026 · 34 min
• Curious lives of octopuses · December 4, 2025 · 24 min
• Flashy dinos · November 7, 2025 · 26 min

Explore listener stats, chart rankings, contacts and more on the Mysteries of Science podcast page.