Crush another little piece of my childhood, will you.

Well, it's official. According to the US government agency NOAA (the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration), mermaids don't exist.

HMPH! I beg to differ. (Hey, science isn't always pretty.)

Besides, would Animal Planet lie to us? Huh? WOULD THEY?

( Reactions to the news were mixed. )

Fortunately, not all of the US government's agencies are such killjoys.