If you thought dragons were confined to fantasy novels and movies, buckle up. Nature, the prestigious scientific journal, recently published a jaw-dropping revelation: dragons not only once roamed the Earth but could very well make a fiery return, thanks to global warming. That’s right—those flying, fire-breathing legends we all dismissed as myth may be more than just a bedtime story, and they may be returning in the near future. Maybe North Korea, with its recently discovered unicorn lair, isn’t the only country that can boast mythical beasts. Intrigued? Let’s break this down.

The Medieval Dragon Boom

According to the Nature article “Here Be Dragons,”¹ the medieval period wasn’t just a time for jousting and bubonic plague—it was also the golden age of dragons. Dragons, it seems, thrived during the warm medieval temperatures. Additionally, the abundance of knights (their favorite snack) made the era a veritable buffet. In the words of the authors, “The major needs for living, feeding, and, crucially, relaxation were readily available to dragons, allowing populations to flourish.”

Between the hordes of knights and the abundance of gold and silver (the perfect nesting materials for any self-respecting dragon), these scaly creatures had it made. When they weren’t out roasting peasants or reducing castles to rubble, dragons spent their downtime lounging on their gleaming piles of loot. Truly, the medieval period was peak dragon civilization.

Like all good things, the dragon boom came to an end. The onset of the Little Ice Age in the 15th century led to “The Great Sleep”—an extended hibernation for dragons, much like bears snoozing through winter. Lower temperatures and a sharp decline in the knight population made the conditions less than ideal for dragon survival.

This period of peace from dragon attacks became so widespread that by the 13th and 14th centuries, people started assuming dragons were extinct. Convenient, right? Less burning flesh, more peaceful evenings in the village tavern.

The Stirs: Dragons Try to Make a Comeback

Dragons, being the practical ectothermic creatures they are, didn’t stay asleep forever. The 16th century saw “The First Stir.” During the brief period between 1586 and 1597, a few dragons woke up to check the lay of the land. According to Nature, these dragons popped their heads out of their nests, saw that it was still cold and knight-free, and promptly hit snooze. Very few humans witnessed this, but those who did were understandably “astonished.” Unfortunately for these dragon eyewitnesses, their accounts were relegated to the realm of fiction.

A second attempt, “The Second Stir” from 1680 to 1690, was even more underwhelming. By this time, most people had firmly categorized dragons as fantasy, and the sightings were largely ignored, except by a few curious philosophers who probably had nothing better to do.

The Third Stir: Is It Coming?

Now here’s where things get… interesting. According to the article, we’re heading for “The Third Stir,” where dragons will emerge once more. Thanks to climate change, the conditions are becoming just right for dragons to thrive again. Combine that with the global search for treasure (what the authors wittily call “quantitative thieving”), and we might just be poking some sleeping dragons. As the article ominously warns, “It is now only a matter of time before The Third Stir takes place, and this, to borrow a phrase from Godfrey of Exmouth, will be the ‘bigge one’.”

So, if you’ve been eyeing that old treasure map, maybe think twice before disturbing what could very well be a dragon’s comfy nap spot. Nothing ruins your day quite like waking up a dragon that hasn’t had its coffee yet.

How to Avoid Becoming Dragon Food

As if the idea of dragons waking up wasn’t enough, the article also advises readers on how to avoid becoming their next meal. First, invest in fireproof clothing (seems practical), and second, steer clear of honorific titles like “Sir” or “Dame.” (Probably should avoid “Esquire,” too, just to be on the safe side.) Apparently, dragons still find knights particularly delicious, and the last thing you want is to be on the menu. Consider this your public service announcement for avoiding a dragon-induced crisping.

Wait, What?

At this point, you might be wondering how on earth this passed scientific muster. Nature is a respected publication, after all. They wouldn’t just casually throw out the idea that dragons are real, would they?

Well, here’s the twist: this article was published on April 2, 2015—just a day after April Fools’ Day. And buried at the end of the article, there’s a small disclaimer that notes, “This article first appeared online on 1 April 2015; some of its content may merit a degree of scepticism.”

In other words: this was an April Fools’ joke. But hey, if you’ve made it this far and still have a slight urge to keep a fire extinguisher handy, don’t worry—you’re not alone. After all, one of the greatest April Fools’ jokes of all time was staging a phony volcano eruption.

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1. Hamilton, Andrew & May, Robert & Waters, Edward. (2015). Zoology: Here be dragons. Nature. 520. 42-3. 10.1038/520042a. ↩︎