Our world under the waves
@worldunderthewaves.bsky.social
Sharing stories about the oceans and how they affect our lives, sometimes in unexpected ways.
Stay tuned here for links and bitesize content. For full length, original articles visit https://ourworldunderthewaves.com/
Stay tuned here for links and bitesize content. For full length, original articles visit https://ourworldunderthewaves.com/
Media Monday #66🎨
A few watercolour paintings by Luigi Balugani (1737-1770) depicting a sand dollar, a pufferfish, a blue crab and a Venus Comb Murex, a predatory (and spiky) sea snail.
A few watercolour paintings by Luigi Balugani (1737-1770) depicting a sand dollar, a pufferfish, a blue crab and a Venus Comb Murex, a predatory (and spiky) sea snail.
December 8, 2025 at 2:49 PM
Media Monday #66🎨
A few watercolour paintings by Luigi Balugani (1737-1770) depicting a sand dollar, a pufferfish, a blue crab and a Venus Comb Murex, a predatory (and spiky) sea snail.
A few watercolour paintings by Luigi Balugani (1737-1770) depicting a sand dollar, a pufferfish, a blue crab and a Venus Comb Murex, a predatory (and spiky) sea snail.
***COMING SOON***
A new article on Our World Under The Waves all about the magnificent giant grouper.
Stay tuned 🌊
A new article on Our World Under The Waves all about the magnificent giant grouper.
Stay tuned 🌊
December 6, 2025 at 3:12 PM
***COMING SOON***
A new article on Our World Under The Waves all about the magnificent giant grouper.
Stay tuned 🌊
A new article on Our World Under The Waves all about the magnificent giant grouper.
Stay tuned 🌊
One of the subtler, but no less insidious effects of overfishing.
Shocking Photos Reveal The Extent Of Overfishing’s Impact On "Shrinking" Cod
We’ve fished them so much, it’s altered their genetic makeup.
www.iflscience.com
December 5, 2025 at 2:04 PM
One of the subtler, but no less insidious effects of overfishing.
Armour plating at its most flexible 🛡️
These impressive looking specimens are chitons, sea snails who crawl along the seashore when the tide has come in (ideally at night) to scrape up tiny algae that grow on the rocks. Unlike limpets, their shell is made up of connected plates, not one single dome.
These impressive looking specimens are chitons, sea snails who crawl along the seashore when the tide has come in (ideally at night) to scrape up tiny algae that grow on the rocks. Unlike limpets, their shell is made up of connected plates, not one single dome.
December 3, 2025 at 12:46 PM
Armour plating at its most flexible 🛡️
These impressive looking specimens are chitons, sea snails who crawl along the seashore when the tide has come in (ideally at night) to scrape up tiny algae that grow on the rocks. Unlike limpets, their shell is made up of connected plates, not one single dome.
These impressive looking specimens are chitons, sea snails who crawl along the seashore when the tide has come in (ideally at night) to scrape up tiny algae that grow on the rocks. Unlike limpets, their shell is made up of connected plates, not one single dome.
Happy Antarctica Day ❄️
This cold frontier has been challenging explorers for decades, yielding maps that reflect different aspects of the icy continent. Including old naval charts, research stations and territorial claims, topography of the land & depths of the seabed and changes to the ice sheets
This cold frontier has been challenging explorers for decades, yielding maps that reflect different aspects of the icy continent. Including old naval charts, research stations and territorial claims, topography of the land & depths of the seabed and changes to the ice sheets
December 1, 2025 at 8:57 AM
Happy Antarctica Day ❄️
This cold frontier has been challenging explorers for decades, yielding maps that reflect different aspects of the icy continent. Including old naval charts, research stations and territorial claims, topography of the land & depths of the seabed and changes to the ice sheets
This cold frontier has been challenging explorers for decades, yielding maps that reflect different aspects of the icy continent. Including old naval charts, research stations and territorial claims, topography of the land & depths of the seabed and changes to the ice sheets
Today is Remeberance Day for Lost Species 😥
Extinction is a natural process, one that’s shaped the natural world throughout Earth’s history.
But the loss of the Yangtze river dolphin (declared extinct by 2007), was caused by noisy boats and habitat destruction through the Yangtze river system.
Extinction is a natural process, one that’s shaped the natural world throughout Earth’s history.
But the loss of the Yangtze river dolphin (declared extinct by 2007), was caused by noisy boats and habitat destruction through the Yangtze river system.
November 30, 2025 at 7:56 AM
Today is Remeberance Day for Lost Species 😥
Extinction is a natural process, one that’s shaped the natural world throughout Earth’s history.
But the loss of the Yangtze river dolphin (declared extinct by 2007), was caused by noisy boats and habitat destruction through the Yangtze river system.
Extinction is a natural process, one that’s shaped the natural world throughout Earth’s history.
But the loss of the Yangtze river dolphin (declared extinct by 2007), was caused by noisy boats and habitat destruction through the Yangtze river system.
As frustrating as this is for these fishermen, it’s a relief to see that these particular dolphins didn’t get tangled in the nets and lines.
Watch dolphins raid crab pots off Australia in never-before-seen footage
Dolphins in Koombana Bay, Western Australia, have learned how to raid crab pots being used for bait and remove the hooks, footage has revealed.
www.livescience.com
November 28, 2025 at 12:56 PM
As frustrating as this is for these fishermen, it’s a relief to see that these particular dolphins didn’t get tangled in the nets and lines.
This may look like an underwater missile. But the REMUS 100 AUV is actually an underwater drone for exploration, disposal of sea mines etc.
Hydroid, the marine robotics developer behind this device, and other later models, shares its name with a group of animals that includes ‘immortal’ jellyfish.
Hydroid, the marine robotics developer behind this device, and other later models, shares its name with a group of animals that includes ‘immortal’ jellyfish.
November 26, 2025 at 12:15 PM
This may look like an underwater missile. But the REMUS 100 AUV is actually an underwater drone for exploration, disposal of sea mines etc.
Hydroid, the marine robotics developer behind this device, and other later models, shares its name with a group of animals that includes ‘immortal’ jellyfish.
Hydroid, the marine robotics developer behind this device, and other later models, shares its name with a group of animals that includes ‘immortal’ jellyfish.
Media Monday #65🎮
One moment you’re swimming around in a delightful water world, and the next you have to chase Unagi, a massive eel with a star on his tail. And then later on, for something completely different, you find him doing his own stand-up comedy routine.
The 1990s was a wild time.
One moment you’re swimming around in a delightful water world, and the next you have to chase Unagi, a massive eel with a star on his tail. And then later on, for something completely different, you find him doing his own stand-up comedy routine.
The 1990s was a wild time.
Super Mario 64: Can the Eel Come Out to Play?
YouTube video by CaponeToneTony
www.youtube.com
November 24, 2025 at 12:34 PM
Media Monday #65🎮
One moment you’re swimming around in a delightful water world, and the next you have to chase Unagi, a massive eel with a star on his tail. And then later on, for something completely different, you find him doing his own stand-up comedy routine.
The 1990s was a wild time.
One moment you’re swimming around in a delightful water world, and the next you have to chase Unagi, a massive eel with a star on his tail. And then later on, for something completely different, you find him doing his own stand-up comedy routine.
The 1990s was a wild time.
This little amphipod may not look like much, but they play an important role in freshwater ecosystems by consuming, and recycling, dead algae and animal matter. The mothers are also quite flexible, producing many small eggs in lakes at lower altitudes, but fewer, larger eggs at higher altitudes.
November 22, 2025 at 1:37 PM
This little amphipod may not look like much, but they play an important role in freshwater ecosystems by consuming, and recycling, dead algae and animal matter. The mothers are also quite flexible, producing many small eggs in lakes at lower altitudes, but fewer, larger eggs at higher altitudes.
Shocking ⚡️
"I Was So Surprised": Electric Rays Tell Sharks To Back Off By Zapping Them
Rude, but effective.
www.iflscience.com
November 21, 2025 at 12:13 PM
Shocking ⚡️
The nautilus with a few more of their namesakes. Yes really, these cephalopods have luxury SUVs, the default file manager app for GNOME (a free and open source desktop environment) and a beach hotel in Miami, Florida, named after them.
November 19, 2025 at 2:54 PM
The nautilus with a few more of their namesakes. Yes really, these cephalopods have luxury SUVs, the default file manager app for GNOME (a free and open source desktop environment) and a beach hotel in Miami, Florida, named after them.
Media Monday #64✒️
In centuries gone by, the artwork that was used to surround a single letter in printed texts was something else.
Note the dolphin (apparently) in the middle of these two examples, each with a crown above its head which is thought to be a reference to King Francis I of France.
In centuries gone by, the artwork that was used to surround a single letter in printed texts was something else.
Note the dolphin (apparently) in the middle of these two examples, each with a crown above its head which is thought to be a reference to King Francis I of France.
November 17, 2025 at 1:06 PM
Media Monday #64✒️
In centuries gone by, the artwork that was used to surround a single letter in printed texts was something else.
Note the dolphin (apparently) in the middle of these two examples, each with a crown above its head which is thought to be a reference to King Francis I of France.
In centuries gone by, the artwork that was used to surround a single letter in printed texts was something else.
Note the dolphin (apparently) in the middle of these two examples, each with a crown above its head which is thought to be a reference to King Francis I of France.
Even in stamp collecting circles, the ocean makes its mark in various countries around the globe. Including (clockwise from top left) blue whales from Indonesia, jellyfish-like hydrozoans from Azerbaijan, common whelks from Albania and pufferfish from Tanzania.
November 15, 2025 at 12:39 PM
Even in stamp collecting circles, the ocean makes its mark in various countries around the globe. Including (clockwise from top left) blue whales from Indonesia, jellyfish-like hydrozoans from Azerbaijan, common whelks from Albania and pufferfish from Tanzania.
Jellyfish-like hydrozoans strike again!
Not the infamous Portuguese Man o’War this time, but their relatively tamer cousin, the ‘By-The-Wind Sailor’ (I swear I’m not making these names up). Contact between their tentacles and your skin is still not advised.
Not the infamous Portuguese Man o’War this time, but their relatively tamer cousin, the ‘By-The-Wind Sailor’ (I swear I’m not making these names up). Contact between their tentacles and your skin is still not advised.
Strange blobs wash ashore in California. What's going on?
What are the blue blobs washing up on California beaches? What to know about these strange sea creatures.
www.livescience.com
November 14, 2025 at 5:42 PM
Jellyfish-like hydrozoans strike again!
Not the infamous Portuguese Man o’War this time, but their relatively tamer cousin, the ‘By-The-Wind Sailor’ (I swear I’m not making these names up). Contact between their tentacles and your skin is still not advised.
Not the infamous Portuguese Man o’War this time, but their relatively tamer cousin, the ‘By-The-Wind Sailor’ (I swear I’m not making these names up). Contact between their tentacles and your skin is still not advised.
This covering, found on seaweeds, rocks and other surfaces, is a bryozoan colony. On closer inspection, you can see individual zooids, each contained within their own little ‘boxes’, each with tubes connecting them with their immediate neighbours for the transfer of nutrients and other materials.
November 12, 2025 at 9:41 AM
This covering, found on seaweeds, rocks and other surfaces, is a bryozoan colony. On closer inspection, you can see individual zooids, each contained within their own little ‘boxes’, each with tubes connecting them with their immediate neighbours for the transfer of nutrients and other materials.
Media Monday #63🧈
This looks like a delightful piece of whale shaped pottery.
But the russian art store website (which has a large physical store in Toronto, Canada) demonstrates its use as a butter dish with lid, albeit an extravagant one.
This looks like a delightful piece of whale shaped pottery.
But the russian art store website (which has a large physical store in Toronto, Canada) demonstrates its use as a butter dish with lid, albeit an extravagant one.
November 10, 2025 at 9:21 AM
Media Monday #63🧈
This looks like a delightful piece of whale shaped pottery.
But the russian art store website (which has a large physical store in Toronto, Canada) demonstrates its use as a butter dish with lid, albeit an extravagant one.
This looks like a delightful piece of whale shaped pottery.
But the russian art store website (which has a large physical store in Toronto, Canada) demonstrates its use as a butter dish with lid, albeit an extravagant one.
Though unlikely to happen at the surface, giant deep sea squid are known to put up a fight against the sperm whales who hunt them. As evidenced by scars they leave on the whale’s skin, courtesy of the ring-shaped tooth concealed within each sucker.
November 8, 2025 at 12:31 PM
Though unlikely to happen at the surface, giant deep sea squid are known to put up a fight against the sperm whales who hunt them. As evidenced by scars they leave on the whale’s skin, courtesy of the ring-shaped tooth concealed within each sucker.
An unusual meal perhaps, but food is food in the deep sea. And researchers were ready to observe the long distance diners as they arrived.
Scientists Dropped A Cow Carcass 1,629 Meters Into The South China Sea – And 8 Unexpected Visitors Turned Up
It's a surprise Pacific sleeper shark party!
www.iflscience.com
November 7, 2025 at 12:36 PM
An unusual meal perhaps, but food is food in the deep sea. And researchers were ready to observe the long distance diners as they arrived.
Though more famous for studying the adaptations of different finch species on the Galapogos Islands, Charles Darwin also spent years studying barnacles whilst working on his theory of natural selection.
These samples were photographed whilst on display at the Zoological Museum of Copenhagen.
These samples were photographed whilst on display at the Zoological Museum of Copenhagen.
November 5, 2025 at 12:45 PM
Though more famous for studying the adaptations of different finch species on the Galapogos Islands, Charles Darwin also spent years studying barnacles whilst working on his theory of natural selection.
These samples were photographed whilst on display at the Zoological Museum of Copenhagen.
These samples were photographed whilst on display at the Zoological Museum of Copenhagen.
Media Monday #62 📘
Sailors confronting mythical sea monsters is a story almost as old as time. But in “Worse Things Happen at Sea” by Kellie Strøm, the carnage is depicted all at once in Leporello format, which is a sort of folded book with drawings and illustrations. Like a portable tapestry.
Sailors confronting mythical sea monsters is a story almost as old as time. But in “Worse Things Happen at Sea” by Kellie Strøm, the carnage is depicted all at once in Leporello format, which is a sort of folded book with drawings and illustrations. Like a portable tapestry.
Nobrow Press - Worse Things Happen at Sea
A thrilling adventure across the seven seas in which man confronts monstrous sea beasts, presented in the bestselling Leporello format. Inspired by tales of mythical sea creatures and the tall..
nobrow.net
November 3, 2025 at 1:17 PM
Media Monday #62 📘
Sailors confronting mythical sea monsters is a story almost as old as time. But in “Worse Things Happen at Sea” by Kellie Strøm, the carnage is depicted all at once in Leporello format, which is a sort of folded book with drawings and illustrations. Like a portable tapestry.
Sailors confronting mythical sea monsters is a story almost as old as time. But in “Worse Things Happen at Sea” by Kellie Strøm, the carnage is depicted all at once in Leporello format, which is a sort of folded book with drawings and illustrations. Like a portable tapestry.
A gold turtle pendant constructed somewhere between the 11th and 16th century by the Veraguas culture (now a modern day province of Panama). This pre-Columbian civilisation is known for their goldwork and such pendants have been found in burial sites in the region.
November 2, 2025 at 10:07 AM
A gold turtle pendant constructed somewhere between the 11th and 16th century by the Veraguas culture (now a modern day province of Panama). This pre-Columbian civilisation is known for their goldwork and such pendants have been found in burial sites in the region.
Shocking!
"I Was So Surprised": Electric Rays Tell Sharks To Back Off By Zapping Them
Rude, but effective.
www.iflscience.com
October 31, 2025 at 6:06 PM
Shocking!
Marine worms are not always as wriggly and ‘wormy’ as you might think. Some look like they’re using feather dusters, some look like Christmas trees and some secure themselves within a honeycomb network of cemented sand. The latter being the true masters of sand castles.
October 29, 2025 at 12:58 PM
Marine worms are not always as wriggly and ‘wormy’ as you might think. Some look like they’re using feather dusters, some look like Christmas trees and some secure themselves within a honeycomb network of cemented sand. The latter being the true masters of sand castles.
Media Monday #61📽️
With Halloween fast approaching, now is as good a time as ever to delve into the crazy realms of marine-themed horror. Aquarium of the dead for instance features an aquarium where the animals turn into zombies.
Not exactly high art, but a fun departure from reality in my opinion.
With Halloween fast approaching, now is as good a time as ever to delve into the crazy realms of marine-themed horror. Aquarium of the dead for instance features an aquarium where the animals turn into zombies.
Not exactly high art, but a fun departure from reality in my opinion.
Aquarium of the Dead (2021) ⭐ 2.9 | Action, Comedy, Horror
1h 26m
www.imdb.com
October 27, 2025 at 4:22 PM
Media Monday #61📽️
With Halloween fast approaching, now is as good a time as ever to delve into the crazy realms of marine-themed horror. Aquarium of the dead for instance features an aquarium where the animals turn into zombies.
Not exactly high art, but a fun departure from reality in my opinion.
With Halloween fast approaching, now is as good a time as ever to delve into the crazy realms of marine-themed horror. Aquarium of the dead for instance features an aquarium where the animals turn into zombies.
Not exactly high art, but a fun departure from reality in my opinion.