Melissa Hobson
Marine science and conservation writer
Melissa Hobson, doing business as The Ocean Writer Ltd., is a marine science and conservation writer based in Hastings. She has written about the ocean for outlets including BBC Wildlife, BBC Countryfile, National Geographic, New Scientist and the Guardian. Visit Melissa’s website at melissahobson.co.uk or follow her on LinkedIn.
Recent articles by Melissa Hobson
This animal eats plastic and poops it out at the bottom of the sea – and scientists just recorded it
In a scientific first, researchers have recorded how quickly microplastics pass through the gut of zooplankton to better understand marine plastic pollution.
In the dead of the night, this diver saw a bizarre thing scuttling out of the darkness
During a night dive in Bali, an underwater photographer happened upon a fascinating example of symbiosis between a carrier crab and an upside-down jellyfish.
When scientists went to a group of remote South Pacific islands, they weren’t expecting to find so many of these giants
A new study has revealed that giant clams are thriving in American Sāmoa thanks to protections from traditional community management.
Researchers extract DNA from 25 Killer whales off the coast of Japan – and make "crucial" new discovery
New research reveals that orcas around the island of Hokkaido can be split into two distinct forms, offering conservationists important information that can help protect the animals.
“Straight out of a sci-fi film." Diver spots strange animal on Great Barrier Reef. What it was doing blew her mind
Wildlife filmmaker stumbles upon a brittle star laying thousands of glowing eggs in Australia – and it's mesmerising to watch.
10 most powerful whales on the planet – are these the ocean’s smartest killers?
Cetaceans are among the most intelligent creatures in the ocean and many whales have used their big brains to develop cunning hunting strategies.
Watch this adorable baby sea otter learning to float on its own. What happened next is heartbreaking...
Wildlife lover Ayse Genisel was delighted to spot a baby sea otter through her binoculars, but people trying to get too close eventually led to tragedy for the pup
It looks like a Christmas tree: Watch this tiny, secretive creature burst into life like an underwater Cinderella
These colourful worms are always in the Christmas spirit, but they’ll vanish inside a coral if you startle them, says Melissa Hobson
Furry noses, snow igloos, snow shoes and group hugs: How 10 snow animals outsmart winter
Here are 10 animals that are perfectly adapted to staying warm in the coldest and snowiest of climates
"Absolutely mesmerising": aerial footage shows hundreds of sharks chasing bait balls in Byron Bay
A wildlife photographer has filmed sharks in Australia creating beautiful patterns in the sea as they swam through bait balls trying to hunt for a meal.
Can any animal kill an orca?
No other predator is able to challenge the orca, says Melissa Hobson
Can any animal kill a blue whale? At 33 metres long and heavier than a Boeing 737, it is the largest creature ever to have lived
It would be a brave animal that took on the world's biggest creature
Vanishing crocodile caught on camera. Blink and you'll miss it
Saltwater crocodiles can stay submerged and unseen for hours, until they’re ready to pounce on unsuspecting prey.
“Not expected at all”: dolphin researchers just made a surprising discovery in the Mediterranean Sea
Mediterranean dolphins have coastal and inshore ecotypes that pass each other by without interacting, like ships in the night, new study finds
Researchers played elephant seals the calls of their nemeses. This is what happened next
Male elephant seals might remember the calls of their adversaries from previous breeding seasons, a new study suggests.
“At 4am in the morning, the captain came to my door." What happened next blew this wildlife photographer away
Ocean and wildlife photographer Greg Lecoeur relives his unbelievable encounter in Svalbard with both polar bears and belugas.
Ocean's most powerful, ruthless killers: The world's top 9 marine predators that rule the waves
Here are 10 of the most effective predators in the ocean – and you might be surprised which one comes out on top
'Unicorn of the sea' washes ashore in Ireland. The bizarre Arctic animal has never been seen here before
Known for its iconic tusk, experts say this is the first time a narwhal has been recorded in Irish waters.
When scientists sunk a deep-sea robot 1,300 metres into the Pacific Ocean they found something staggering...
A remotely operated vehicles found never-before-seen hydrothermal activity on the seabed in Papua New Guinea.
Land can be divided up, but who owns the world’s oceans? It’s a tricky question – here’s what the UN thinks
Ever wondered whether anyone owns the world's oceans – including the High Seas? Melissa Hobson takes a look
10 fastest swimmers in the ocean, including one animal that can accelerate to nearly 80MPH quicker than a Porsche
When it comes to fastest animal, we usually think of cheetahs, but many ocean creatures also boast spectacular sprints – here are some of the quickest
"Totally surreal": exceptionally rare white whale amazes divers in Tonga
These tourism guides have been on the sea for 28 years. This is the first time they've seen an all-white whale.
Scientists drop microphones to Arctic seabed, then 4m-long animals with huge tusks appear
We thought eavesdropping on animals didn't annoy them... until these strange-looking creatures started hitting underwater recording devices.
33-metre, 180-tonne monster tops 'biggest animals in the ocean' list – and makes the great white shark look tiny
From the gigantic blue whale to a coral colony so large it can be seen from space, here are some of the most enormous organisms living in the ocean