how scientists accidentally inspired the mythology behind modern conspiracies

By the middle of the 19th century, paleontologists had a major problem. They started unearthing fossils that defied their understanding of the world. This wasn’t because of what those fossils were, but where they were being found. Creatures of the same species were popping up in Australia, South Africa, the south of Spain, and Argentina all at the same time.

By that point, scientists had been kicking around the idea that maybe, the continents weren’t always in the same place but had no proof. So, a few proposed an alternative that caught on like wildfire with explorers, occultists, and ne’er-do-wells looking for a massive payday or a spot in the history books…