Melissa Hobson
Marine science, conservation and sustainability writer
Recent articles by Melissa Hobson
“It’s one of those moments where you see the full circle of life on the reef." Baby orca stuns Aussie pilot
See a pilot’s-eye-view of a rare baby orca in Western Australia – it’s believed to be the first calf born in the area in three years.
Baffling (yet adorable) footage of a Tasmanian wombat foraging in the ocean has scientists stumped
Tourists were curious when they saw the marsupial appearing to drink seawater and eat aquatic plants.
Spellbinding footage captures critically endangered whale with her baby off the New England coast
There are around 360 North Atlantic right whales left on the planet, so every calf is precious.
Venomous lionfish are invading the Mediterranean Sea. The rise of these deadly predators has scientists worried
The species’ rapid spread across the Mediterranean, including to habitats previously thought to be unsuitable, could have significant ecological impacts.
Sperm whales have been seen pooing on orcas in what scientists think may be a form of 'defensive defecation'
Researchers observed orcas fleeing from sperm whale faeces – but was this ‘defensive defecation' a tactic or just a coincidence?
Fish are mysteriously spinning in circles and dying in Florida. And scientists don't know why
Experts are getting involved to get to the bottom of the worrying phenomenon that is killing Florida's critically endangered smalltooth sawfish.
1,000 oceanic manta rays seen in the Maldives
Landmark moment as 1,000th individual oceanic manta ray is recorded in Maldivian waters. The Indian Ocean archipelago has the third largest population in the world, after Ecuador and Mexico.
Schools of fish can swim as quietly as individuals. How 'acoustic stealth' could inspire next wave of submarines
The way fish move has a significant impact on how noisy the school is, according to a new study. Engineers say the finding could lead to the development of stealthier underwater vehicles.
Astonishing deep-sea 'galaxy', underwater mountains and coral gardens discovered off the coast of Chile
The deepest photosynthesising coral in the world and 160 species – at least 50 of which are believed to be new to science – observed during a deep-sea expedition at Chile’s Salas y Gómez Ridge.
Fish Doorbell: The viral livestream that’s saving fish in the Netherlands
A canal lock in the Dutch city of Utrecht has been making a splash with its underwater livestream. But what is the Fish Doorbell and how is it helping local wildlife? Dive in for the full story...
This stingray is about to have a 'virgin birth'. Scientists explain how
Rumours of a shark being the father to Charlotte the stingray's pups weren’t true – but the real story is even more fascinating...
Underwater drones shed new light on mysterious coral habitats. Here's what they found
Researchers in Japan are using underwater drones to learn about low-light coral habitats in tropical and subtropical waters. The scientists hope that the new technique will help them understand “the entire spectrum of the coral reef".
There’s a fish in Tasmania with hands instead of fins, and scientists are about to save it from extinction
Amid concerns about the risk of upcoming marine heatwaves, 25 critically endangered red handfish have been removed from the wild in a bid to save the species from extinction.