FT276


We have all heard of giants. Today, the word is likely to bring to mind the few examples of human beings who have grown to extreme sizes, like Robert Wadlow, who reached a height of 8ft 11.1in (2.72m) and is regarded as “the tallest person in history”. Typically, such human giants reach heights of less than 9ft (2.74m) and claims of greater heights appear to have been exaggerations.

There have been stories of much bigger giants, of course. The storybook giants were enormous creatures, taller than houses. But could there have been a basis in the natural world for such beings?