Monsters, Minds and Metamorphosis - The Biology of The Odyssey

Christopher Nolan's new adaptation has pushed Homer's Odyssey back into the spotlight, but behind the gods and monsters is a surprisingly rich set of biological questions. Could a giant Cyclops support its own weight? What would it actually take to turn a human body into a pig while leaving the mind intact? Could a song really override self-preservation, and could a six-headed vertebrate ever develop? Using Homer's original encounters alongside the more physical versions seen in Nolan's film, this episode tests the monsters of The Odyssey against real physiology, neuroscience, development and evolution.