Dr Helen Scales
Dr Helen Scales is a marine biologist, broadcaster and science writer. She is the author of Spirals in Time and The Brilliant Abyss.
Recent articles by Dr Helen Scales
Is there really no such thing as fish?
It's a saying you might be familiar with, particularly if you listen to the popular podcast by the QI Elves, but how true is it? Is there really no such thing as a fish?
It looks like it's wearing a sequinned jumpsuit and has a penchant for fighting and getting 'all shook up'
Meet the Elvis worm, a deep-sea creature with iridescent scales, dazzles with its shimmering armour
Why do seahorses look like miniature horses?
Just why do seahorses look like horses? Helen Scales explains why their equine-looking head makes them stealthy ambush predators
"They dodge death by hitting rewind. Even after a dead medusa has collapsed into a pile of mush, its cells can grow into polyps…"
Immortal jellyfish, and a few similar species, are said to be immortal. But how true is this claim? Dr Helen Scales explains.
"Their teeth are barbed and hollow, and primed with a toxic cocktail strong enough to kill a human. Worst of all they spit out their teeth like poison darts"
You have probably never thought about whether snails and slugs have teeth, but they do...
The incredible reason deep-sea animals don't implode under crushing ocean pressure
Just how do deep-sea fish avoid imploding? Dr Helen Scales explains
"To see one, you’ll need to dive into the twilight zone where they float around looking – quite frankly – like a pair of pink, peachy pig’s buttocks"
Meet the pigbutt worm - that looks just like it sounds. Never has a name been so apt...
It's the size of Gambia and one and a half times deeper than the Grand Canyon – but what secrets lie hidden in this mysterious underwater giant?
"It doesn't come much weirder than having a see-through head!" 16 strangest, weirdest fish in the world, including one that can incredibly live out of water
Our seas are brimming with strange and wonderful creatures. Meet 13 of the weirdest fish in the world, which sport everything from super-long noses to golfball heads
Meet nature’s deadliest sniper, the archerfish – this lethal assassin shoots down prey with fatally accurate water jets
Molluscs: Discover the fascinating world of these slimy alien lifeforms
Over 500 million years molluscs have become one of the most diverse and adaptable groups on Earth. Helen Scales reveals the secrets of their success.
Squid vs octopus: what's the difference between these multiple-limbed sea creatures?
Although squid and octopuses have a good deal in common, they are quite different, as Helen Scales explains
How do 'flying fish' fly?
Just how do 'flying fish' appear to soar through the air? Helen Scales explains
Why is whale poo good for the planet?
We don’t often think of whales defecating, but we should – their faeces have a vitally important part to play in the ecosystem of our oceans.
Best books on marine and coastal wildlife
Take a dive into the watery depths of our oceans, soar over the waves, or explore fascinating rock pools on the coastline, with this wide range of books on marine and coastal wildlife.
Seashells expert guide: what are they, where do they come from, and how are they made?
Every shell was once part of a living sea creature. But what are they? How are they formed? And what animals use them? Our expert guide has the answers
Do octopuses ever live together?
Octopuses are typically solitary creatures, but a group of them were found living together off Australia's coastline.
The fascinating world of the lemon shark
Lemon sharks have personalities, make friends, use body language and learn tricks. They’re forcing us to rethink how we see big sharks, says Helen Scales.
