Because Why?! The Science and Society Pod.
8 of the weirdest deep sea creatures you’ve never heard of (Microgreens with Melissa Márquez)
12 Jun 2025
There’s a worm that shoots out glowing green slime, a squid that can turn itself invisible, and a fish that literally walks on land. To celebrate World Oceans Day last week, today’s episode is all about the ocean’s weirdest and most wonderful creatures.I'm joined once again by Melissa Márquez - an amazing marine biologist, shark scientist, and science communicator. She’s been on TV, given TEDx talks, written books - she’s just awesome. If you want to learn more about her, make sure you check out our main episode released earlier this week.But this week, we dive into the weird and wonderful of the ocean.In this episode we talk about:A fish that can walk on land (yes, really!)A squid that can turn invisible by bending lightA worm that fires out green slime like something from a horror filmWhy jellyfish are older than dinosaursHow a pufferfish creates the most delicate art on the sea floorA sea slug that steals genes from algae and uses photosynthesisHow ocean creatures are inspiring new technologies and materialsWhy these species might disappear before most people even hear about them“Some squids don’t just hide, they actually turn invisible by bending light around their bodies.”“This fish literally walks on land… it’s like evolution just gave up and said, ‘sure, go for it.’”Episode Sources: Blobfish deep-sea morphology: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/animals/fish/facts/blobfish Humboldt squid size, colour flashes and behaviour: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Humboldt_squid Bigfin (Magnapinna) squid fact-sheet (NOAA): https://oceanexplorer.noaa.gov/okeanos/explorations/ex2107/features/bigfin-squid/bigfin-squid.html Goblin shark protrusible jaws: https://www.sciencefocus.com/nature/goblin-shark-factsGulper (pelican) eel with bioluminescent tail: https://www.bbc.com/earth/story/20150608-the-scarfaced-eel-with-a-giant-mouthBobbit worm ambush and size: https://www.wired.com/2013/09/absurd-creature-of-the-week-bobbit-worm/Giant isopod fasting ability: https://www.nhm.ac.uk/discover/giant-isopods-curious-crustaceans-on-the-ocean-floor.htmlBlack seadevil (Johnson’s abyssal seadevil) deep-sea video: https://www.sci.news/biology/science-black-seadevil-anglerfish-02294.htmlSea pig cloacal breathing and pearlfish commensalism: https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Scotoplanes_globosaMore About Melissa. Follow her on Instagram.Find our full podcast via the website here: https://www.nowthatswhaticall.com/Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/nowthatswhaticallgreen/You can follow me on socials on the below accounts.Instagram: https://www.instagram.com/briannemwest/TikTok: https://www.tiktok.com/@briannemwestLinkedIn: https://www.linkedin.com/in/briannemwest/For our latest big project, find out more about Incrediballs here: https://incrediballs.com/
No persons identified in this episode.
This episode hasn't been transcribed yet
Help us prioritize this episode for transcription by upvoting it.
Popular episodes get transcribed faster
Other recent transcribed episodes
Transcribed and ready to explore now
3ª PARTE | 17 DIC 2025 | EL PARTIDAZO DE COPE
01 Jan 1970
El Partidazo de COPE
Buchladen: Tipps für Weihnachten
20 Dec 2025
eat.READ.sleep. Bücher für dich
LVST 19 de diciembre de 2025
19 Dec 2025
La Venganza Será Terrible (oficial)
Christmas Party, Debris & Ping-Pong
19 Dec 2025
My Therapist Ghosted Me
Episode 1320: Becoming 'The Monk': Rex Ryan on playing Gerry Hutch on stage (Part 1)
19 Dec 2025
Crime World
Friends Thru A Lens: The Holidays with Ella Risbridger
19 Dec 2025
Sentimental Garbage