Melissa Hobson

Melissa Hobson

Live Science Contributor

Melissa Hobson is a freelance writer who specializes in marine science, conservation and sustainability, and particularly loves writing about the bizarre behaviors of marine creatures. Melissa has worked for several marine conservation organizations where she soaked up their knowledge and passion for protecting the ocean. A certified Rescue Diver, she gets her scuba fix wherever possible but is too much of a wimp to dive in the UK these days so tends to stick to tropical waters. Her writing has also appeared in National Geographic, the Guardian, the Sunday Times, New Scientist, VICE and more.

Articles by: Melissa Hobson

Photo of sea squirts attached to a rock, resembling a skeleton with two black eyes

Skeleton panda sea squirt: The weird little creature that looks like baby panda dressed up for Halloween

By Melissa Hobson published

Scientists discovered this little panda skeleton that lives off the coast of a Japanese island was a new species after scuba divers posted photos of it online.

Photo of great white shark carcass on a sandy beach.

Great white shark gets liver torn out by lone orca in under 2 minutes in shocking shift of hunting methods

By Melissa Hobson published

Disturbing footage shows the moment a single orca chased down a great white shark and killed it, then swam away with the shark's liver in its jaws.

Aerial footage of whale swimming with its calf.

Critically endangered right whales are shrinking, with drastic consequences for their population

By Melissa Hobson published

Climate change appears to be causing North Atlantic right whales to get smaller, and it's making them have fewer babies.

Glikmanius careforum is seen swimming in the foreground.

325 million-year-old shark graveyard discovered deep within Mammoth Cave harbors new fossilized species

By Melissa Hobson published

Two new ancient shark species have been uncovered in Mammoth Cave with teeth that "look like they just came out of the shark's mouth yesterday."

Aerial image captured of a pale great white shark newborn.

'One of the holy grails of shark science': Watch 1st ever footage of baby great white shark moments after birth

By Melissa Hobson published

A newborn great white shark has been seen in the wild for the first time, and the discovery could help scientists finally solve a longstanding mystery about the threatened species.

A large pale yellow isopod lays in the palm of a persons hands.

'You can see its guts and things': Weird see-through crustacean with giant eyes discovered off the Bahamas

By Melissa Hobson published

Scientists have discovered a new species, related to the roly poly bug, that plays an important role in keeping the ocean healthy.

Bottlenose dolphins.

Dolphins are 'literally acting like jerks' by beating up baby manatees

By Melissa Hobson published

Bottlenose dolphins have been observed trying to kill Antillean manatee calves, and researchers don't fully understand what's going on.

artist impression of a megalodon underwater

Megalodon didn't look like a 50-foot great white shark, controversial study claims

By Melissa Hobson published

Scientists say they have discovered a discrepancy in previous research and suggest megalodons may have been longer and more slender than previously believed — but not everyone is convinced.

A pile of 7 dead sharks lay together on a dirty tiled floor.

Humans now kill 80 million sharks per year, 25 million of which are threatened species

By Melissa Hobson published

Catch data from 2012 to 2019 reveal shark deaths from fishing increased from 76 million to 80 million per year. Researchers stress that more action is needed to save threatened species.