Helen Scales – författare

The deep sea is the last, vast wilderness on the planet. This is the story of how we imagine, explore and exploit it. For centuries, myth-makers and storytellers have concocted imaginary monsters of the deep, and now scientists are looking there to find bizarre, unknown species, chemicals to make new medicines, and to gain a greater understanding of how this world of ours works. With an average depth of 12,000 feet and chasms that plunge much deeper, it forms a frontier for new discoveries. The Brilliant Abyss tells the story of our relationship with the deep sea – how we imagine, explore and exploit it. It captures the golden age of discovery we are currently in and looks back at the history of how we got here, while also looking forward to the unfolding new environmental disasters that are taking place miles beneath the waves, far beyond the public gaze. Throughout history, there have been two distinct groups of deep-sea explorers. Both have sought knowledge but with different and often conflicting ambitions in mind. Some people want to quench their curiosity; many more have been lured by the possibilities of commerce and profit. The tension between these two opposing sides is the theme that runs throughout the book, while readers are taken on a chronological journey through humanity’s developing relationship with the deep sea. The Brilliant Abyss ends by looking forwards to humanity’s advancing impacts on the deep, including mining and pollution and what we can do about them.

Dive beneath the waves to meet 80 of the ocean's strangest and most surprising inhabitants.This beautifully illustrated aquatic world tour tells the fascinating stories of beguiling sea creatures and their ingenious feats of survival - from producing anti-freeze to enduring boiling temperatures - revealing the ways in which these seemingly remote creatures have shaped our own lives, whether through medicine, culture or folklore.Around the Ocean in 80 Fish and Other Sea Life is a timely and gorgeous celebration of our watery world and the marvellous creatures that call it home.

Turn any beach into a treasure hunt with this beautifully illustrated book packed with surprising and delightful wonders of nature Looking for seashells and learning their names is the perfect way to explore Britain’s coastline at leisure. It’s a nostalgic simple pleasure, and a way to discover some of nature’s most exquisite wonders. From the common cockle to the blue-rayed limpet, The Shell Spotter’s Guide covers the beautiful and surprising range of mussels, oysters, periwinkles, scallops, cowries and whelks found on our beaches.This beautifully illustrated book written by marine biologist Helen Scales is the perfect companion for all aspiring shell spotters.

An hourly guide that follows twenty-four mollusks to reveal the fascinating lives behind their shells.From morning to night and from the Arctic to the equator, snails, clams, and other shell-making mollusks have busy days. In this short book, acclaimed author and marine biologist Helen Scales shows readers exactly how these animals spend their time. Each chapter of Shell Day features a single mollusk during a single hour, highlighting twenty-four different species.Far in the north, the Svalbard archipelago lies deep in the darkness of the polar night. And yet, in what remains a scientific mystery, Iceland scallops continue their daily rhythms, closing and opening their fan-shaped shells using an internal clock. At noon, we observe a clam shell sitting still on the seabed of a sandy tropical lagoon. The two shells open slightly, and a pair of rounded eyes peep out. A small, rust-colored coconut octopus hiding inside lets the clam shells fall apart and gathers them up in her arms. This mollusk’s ancestors long ago lost the ability to produce their own shells, but the cephalopod is happy to use another animal’s castoff as a temporary home. At ten that night, we find ourselves in Southern France. A male moon snail uses his huge, fleshy foot like a plow as he digs down into the seabed in search of food. When the moon snail finds a cockle, he swiftly smothers it, then sets about drilling, aided by a daub of acidic slime. Cockles are tasty, but so are other moon snails, and his snacking has a cannibalistic flavor.For each chapter, illustrator and cartoonist Aaron John Gregory has depicted molluscan scenes with entrancing pen-and-ink drawings. Working together to narrate and illustrate these unique moments in time, Scales and Gregory have created an engaging read that is a perfect way to spend an hour or two—and a true gift for beachcombers, naturalists, or anyone eager to learn about the mollusks that make their favorite shells.

Travel to the bottom of the ocean to explore the hidden deep sea environment with marine biologist Dr Helen Scales. The deep sea is the biggest, most mysterious part of our planet. For a long time, scientists thought it was just a huge empty space, devoid of life: too dark, too cold, too much pressure and not enough food. Now we know differently: the deep sea is full of amazing life all the way to the very bottom. In order to survive down there, animals get up to all sorts of strange things and look completely different to anything else on Earth. Written by award-winning marine biologist and author Dr Helen Scales, The Deep, Dark Ocean comprehensively visualizes the deep ocean environment and brings its beautiful and unbelievable quirks to life. Readers will find themselves immersed in the velvety dark landscapes of deep sea plains, trenches and mountain ranges, and discover ghostly octopuses, sea pigs, dancing crabs, coral and sponge forests, Elvis worms and Ninja lanternsharks among other remarkable creatures.

Discover the extraordinary ways the world's oceans and sea life are coming back from the brink and making remarkable recoveries in this stunning new 1000-piece jigsaw puzzle, with 20 uniquely shaped pieces that give a new twist to puzzling.Beautifully illustrated by Good Wives and Warriors and accompanied by a fold-out poster with text written by Dr Helen Scales, discover how humpback whale populations are thriving in the freezing seas of Alaska, and how elephant seals have recovered from 'extinction', with messages of hope and positive change from around the globe.Piece together this family puzzle, and slot in 20 uniquely shaped pieces which celebrate all the animals featured in the amazing stories of the natural world.A 1000-PIECE NATURE JIGSAW with 20 uniquely shaped pieces. Completed puzzle measures 485 x 680mm.DISCOVER REMARKABLE STORIES about the world's oceans and sea creatures on the fold-out poster.FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY from ages 6+.LAURENCE KING has been capturing imaginations and inspiring creativity in new and unexpected ways for over 30 years, with playful and eye-catching games, gifts and books.

Piece together flora and fauna from around the globe in this 1000-piece puzzle, with 20 specially shaped pieces. Vibrantly illustrated by Good Wives and Warriors and accompanied by a fold-out poster with text written by Dr Helen Scales. Discover the extraordinary ways the world's land dwelling wildlife are surviving and thriving, find out how the Voeltzkow species chameleon was lost in 1913 and rediscovered in 2018 and how action from conservationists is improving the tiger population, with messages of hope and positive change from around the world.A 1000-PIECE NATURE JIGSAW with 20 specially shaped pieces to slot in. Completed puzzle measures 485 x 680mm.DISCOVER REMARKABLE STORIES about the natural world and animals featured on the puzzle on the fold-out poster.FUN FOR THE WHOLE FAMILY from ages 6+.LAURENCE KING has been capturing imaginations and inspiring creativity in new and unexpected ways for over 30 years, with playful and eye-catching games, gifts and books.

'A rewarding glimpse of another world' THE GUARDIANSeashells are the sculpted homes of a remarkable group of animals: the molluscs. These are some of the most ancient and successful animals on the planet, and they have fascinating tales to tell. Spirals in Time charts the course of shells through history, from the first jewelry and the oldest currencies through to their use as potent symbols of sex and death, prestige and war, not to mention a nutritious (and tasty) source of food. In this book, Helen Scales leads us on a journey into the realm of these undersea marvels. She goes in search of everything from snails that 'fly' underwater to octopuses accused of stealing shells and giant mussels with golden beards.Shells are also bellwethers of our impact on the natural world. The effects of overfishing and pollution are, of course, serious concerns, but perhaps more worrying is ocean acidification, which causes shells to simply melt away. Spirals in Time urges you to ponder how seashells can reconnect us with nature, and heal the rift between ourselves and the living world.One of the books of the year – Nature, Guardian, The Economist, The Times

'Scales's genuine appreciation and awe for fish are contagious.'- Science'Delightful' - New ScientistSeventy per cent of the earth's surface is covered by water. This vast aquatic realm is inhabited by a multitude of strange creatures and reigning supreme among them are the fish.There are giants that live for centuries and thumb-sized tiddlers that survive only weeks; they can be pancake-flat or inflatable balloons; they can shout with colours or hide in plain sight, cheat and dance, remember and say sorry; some rarely budge while others travel the globe restlessly. And yet the mesmerising and complex lives of fish remain largely underrated and unseen, living hidden beneath the waterline, out of sight and out of mind.Helen Scales is our guide on an underwater journey, as we fathom the depths and watch these animals going about the glorious business of being fish. As well as the fish, we meet devoted fishwatchers past and present, from voodoo zombie potion hunters and scientists who taught fish how to walk to nonagenarian explorers of the deep sea.Woven throughout are vignettes of Helen's own aquatic explorations, from eerie nighttime dives with glowing fish and up-close encounters with giant manta rays, to floating in the middle of a swirling shoal being watched by thousands of inquisitive eyes.As well as being a rich and entertaining read, this book will inspire readers to think again about these animals and the seas they inhabit, and to go out and appreciate the wonders of fish, whether through the glass walls of an aquarium or, better still, by gazing into the fishes’ wild world and swimming through it.'Engaging and informative' The Economist

Discover the extraordinary ways nature has come back from the brink in this collection of 20 environmental success stories from around the world, written by Dr Helen Scales and beautifully illustrated by Good Wives and Warriors. From humpback whale populations thriving again in the freezing seas of Alaska and the recovery of kiwi populations in New Zealand, to the setting up of tiger sanctuaries and reserves in India and return of elephant seals from 'extinction', this book plants a message of hope and shows children that positive change is possible.As well as the 20 recovery stories, Return of the Wild teaches children about the different habitats that animals and plants around the world call home - oceans, forests, deserts and more - and introduces them to the real people supporting endangered species. Finishing off with small tips on what children at home can do to help the wild world, from wearing eco-friendly suncream while swimming in the sea to using less single use plastic, this book reassures children that there are many ways to protect and save our planet from environmental harm.

Learn about and colour in the extraordinary ways nature has come back from the brink in this collection of nature recovery stories from around the world. From the recovery of endangered kiwi populations in New Zealand and the setting up of tiger reserves in India, to rescuing the blue butterflies in the English countryside and replanting the seagrass meadows in North America, there's a world of hope to colour in and explore. Each story of environmental recovery is accompanied by a huge, detailed colouring page to keep you entertained for hours.Created by Helen Scales, marine biologist and writer, and Good Wives & Warriors, the internationally renowned duo of illustrators behind Mythopedia and Return of the Wild.

Discover an incredible world hidden beneath the waves with this beautiful encyclopedia of our oceans and the animals that live in and around them.Our planet's oceans are home to a breathtaking array of animals. From the neon squid that roam the open waters and the floating forests of the Sargasso Sea, to glow-in-the-dark sharks and the angel fish of the coral reefs, discover an underwater world teeming with life.Expertly written by marine biologist and author Dr Helen Scales and brought to vivid life with striking illustrations by Good Wives and Warriors (artists on Mythopedia and Dinopedia), this comprehensive encyclopedia includes a global collection of fascinating sea creatures. Dive in - you never know what you might discover...

The second in a series of books in association with the Royal Institution on their world-renowned Christmas Lectures, this time exploring the secrets of the natural world – with a foreword by Sir David Attenborough.Following on from the success of 13 Journeys Through Space and Time, which took us on a voyage of astronomical discovery through past Christmas Lectures given at the Royal Institution on space and space exploration, this book turns our attention to our own planet and the animals, plants, fish, insects and all the other living things that inhabit it – how they’ve evolved and the vital roles they play in the intricate webs of life on earth.Taking eleven of the most exciting and revealing Christmas Lectures on the natural world given at the Royal Institution, including Sir David Attenborough’s animal-packed Lectures from 1977 and Richard Dawkins’s explosive series on the evolution of life, we take an illuminating look at more than a hundred years of scientific exploration to discover the origins of life on our planet and the mysteries so far uncovered.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR NON-FICTIONLONGLISTED FOR THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE FOR NON-FICTIONNo matter where we live, 'we are all ocean people,' Helen Scales observes in her bracing yet hopeful exploration of the future of the ocean. Beginning with its fascinating deep history, Scales links past to present to show how prehistoric ocean ecology holds lessons for the ocean of today.In elegant, evocative prose, she takes us into the realms of animals that epitomize current increasingly challenging conditions, from emperor penguins to sharks and orcas. Yet despite these threats, many hopeful signs remain, in the form of highly protected reserves, the regeneration of seagrass meadows and giant kelp forests and efforts to protect coral reefs.Offering innovative ideas for protecting coastlines and cleaning the toxic seas, Scales insists we need more ethical and sustainable fisheries and must prevent the other existential threat of deep-sea mining. Inspiring us all to maintain a sense of awe and wonder at the majesty beneath the waves, she urges us to fight for the better future that still exists for the ocean.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR NON-FICTIONLONGLISTED FOR THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE FOR NON-FICTIONNo matter where we live, 'we are all ocean people,' Helen Scales observes in her bracing yet hopeful exploration of the future of the ocean. Beginning with its fascinating deep history, Scales links past to present to show how prehistoric ocean ecology holds lessons for the ocean of today.In elegant, evocative prose, she takes us into the realms of animals that epitomize current increasingly challenging conditions, from emperor penguins to sharks and orcas. Yet despite these threats, many hopeful signs remain, in the form of highly protected reserves, the regeneration of seagrass meadows and giant kelp forests and efforts to protect coral reefs.Offering innovative ideas for protecting coastlines and cleaning the toxic seas, Scales insists we need more ethical and sustainable fisheries and must prevent the other existential threat of deep-sea mining. Inspiring us all to maintain a sense of awe and wonder at the majesty beneath the waves, she urges us to fight for the better future that still exists for the ocean.

SHORTLISTED FOR THE WOMEN'S PRIZE FOR NON-FICTIONLONGLISTED FOR THE BAILLIE GIFFORD PRIZE FOR NON-FICTIONNo matter where we live, 'we are all ocean people,' Helen Scales observes in her bracing yet hopeful exploration of the future of the ocean. Beginning with its fascinating deep history, Scales links past to present to show how prehistoric ocean ecology holds lessons for the ocean of today.In elegant, evocative prose, she takes us into the realms of animals that epitomize current increasingly challenging conditions, from emperor penguins to sharks and orcas. Yet despite these threats, many hopeful signs remain, in the form of highly protected reserves, the regeneration of seagrass meadows and giant kelp forests and efforts to protect coral reefs.Offering innovative ideas for protecting coastlines and cleaning the toxic seas, Scales insists we need more ethical and sustainable fisheries and must prevent the other existential threat of deep-sea mining. Inspiring us all to maintain a sense of awe and wonder at the majesty beneath the waves, she urges us to fight for the better future that still exists for the ocean.

One of New Scientist’s Best Popular Science Books of 2025Artists have captured the marvels of ocean life throughout history. From fine art to scientific illustrations, these portrayals help us to appreciate and interpret the diversity of shapes, colours and patterns of the remarkable organisms that inhabit the oceans of the world.In Ocean Art, marine biologist and writer Helen Scales takes readers on a tour of ocean art, looking for the most striking and meaningful depictions of sea creatures, from ancient times to modern and from the coast to the deepest abyss, reflecting on how these works influence our view of life beneath the waves. This richly illustrated celebration of the beauty and wonders of ocean life is also a call to cherish and protect the endangered living seas.

'This wondrous compendium will enthrall beachcombers and landlubbers alike.' – The New York Times'For the beach-bound family … they may even end up knowing what they're finding when they're combing the sand.' – The Wall Street JournalA stunning, lavishly illustrated, and information-packed introduction to the wonder of shells through the art of observation - the perfect book for young explorers, collectors, and nature lovers everywhereAward-winning marine biologist Helen Scales introduces children to the wonders of shells (from seashells to land snails) through the art of observation. Using a friendly question-and-answer format, she explores, through a richly sensory experience, the incredible diversity of shells around the world and showcases the environments molluscs inhabit. From what a shell's shape, color, or texture can reveal about its inhabitant, to where shells are found (from the deepest seas to jungly treetops), with this book, readers can get up close with nature to observe its wonders.Ages 6-9

A richly illustrated, informative, and interactive introduction to shells for children aged 2-4, with over 40 flaps to lift and discoverIn this board book companion to What a Shell Can Tell, award-winning marine biologist and documentary maker, Helen Scales, introduces children ages 2-4 to the wonders of shells. With over 40 flaps to lift creating interactive opportunities on every page, stunningly lifelike illustrations, children are encouraged to observe, engage with, and understand a range of shells and environments. From where shells are found and who lives in them, to what a shell’s look and feel can reveal about its inhabitant and environment. The book expands on a child’s natural instinct for collecting things, nurturing their interest and curiosity in nature by giving them simple observation skills that will help them to explore the connections between objects found in nature and the wider ecosystem, as well as building their vocabulary. With a timely message of environmental stewardship combined with stunning illustrations, this book encourages children to explore and care about the world around them.Ages 2-4

Tasked with observing and protecting the islands' amazing wildlife, the scientists will track and study the animals and plants that are unique to this incredible archipelago.To get the job done they will climb volcanoes, get sneezed on by marine iguanas, watch dancing birds, launch a deep-diving submersible and explore the dazzling underwater wonders of Galápagos.

Tasked with studying the changing environment and wildlife, a team of scientists will set sail onboard the Noto to explore Antarctica. To get the job done, they will use drones to track colonies of penguins, board deep-diving submersibles to monitor huge melting glaciers, and drill to investigate ancient ice cores. By studying the changing climate and what rising temperatures mean for the future of our planet, the team will discover practical ways we can help look after Antarctica and its unique ecosystem.

A vibrant guide to the Great Barrier Reef full of surprising factoids and retro illustrations, perfect for children curious about life under the sea. Now in paperback!"A very good book for beefing up the coral reef section, or for niche projects on climate change."—School Library JournalDid you know that giant clams can weigh as much as two baby elephants? Or that the shockwave of a pistol shrimp can heat up the surrounding waters to a temperature nearly as hot as the surface of the sun? With nearly 400,000 square kilometers of dazzling color, intricate ecosystems and unique creatures large and small, The Great Barrier Reef is one of the great natural wonders of our world.Vibrant, dynamic illustrations illuminate this enchanting place, its animal inhabitants, and the peoples who have embraced it as a centerpiece of their cultures. Learn all about how the reef came to be, its place in the world, and perhaps most importantly, what we can all do to help ensure that The Great Barrier Reef will be around for countless future generations to discover!

Follow the team as they monitor colonies of penguins, unlock the secrets of how orcas communicate and observe a colossal squid deep underwater. Along the way, the team will study ancient ice cores, monitor huge melting glaciers and discover how Antarctica is changing. By studying the warming climate, our scientists will discover what this will mean for the future of our planet.

With nearly 400,000 square kilometres of dazzling colour, intricate ecosystems and unique creatures large and small, The Great Barrier Reef is one of the great natural wonders of our world. Vibrant, dynamic illustrations illuminate this enchanting place, its animal inhabitants, and the people who have embraced it as a centrepiece of their cultures. Learn all about how the reef came to be, its place in the world, and perhaps most importantly, what we can all do to help ensure that The Great Barrier Reef will be around for countless future generations to discover!