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Edith Widder

Edith Widder

American oceanographer and marine biologist

Aug 16, 2026

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0:55
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0:58
[Instrumental music] [applause] The Kraken, a beast so terrifying it was said to devour men and ships and whales, and so enormous it could be mistaken for an island.
1:25
In assessing the merits of such tales, it's probably wise to keep in mind that old sailors saw that the only difference between a fairy tale and a sea story is a fairy tale begins once upon a time, and a sea story begins, "This ain't no shit." [laughing] Every fish that gets away grows with every telling of the tale.
1:45
Nevertheless, there are giants in the ocean, and we now have video proof, as those of you that saw the Discovery Channel documentary are no doubt aware.
1:54
I was one of the three scientists on this expedition that took place last summer off Japan.
1:59
I'm the short one.
2:00
[laughing] The other two are Dr. Tsunemi Kubodera and Dr. Steve O'Shea.

7 MINS LATER

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8:52
Let's get you a basket
Tembi Denton-HurstADVERTISER
8:29
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8:34
In fact, it's thought that some of these are as much as 3,000 years old, which is one reason that bottom trawling should not be allowed.
8:42
The other reason is this amazing bush glows.
8:47
So if you brush up against it, any place you've brushed against it, you get this twinkling blue-green light that's just breathtaking.
8:56
And you see things like this.
8:58
This looks like something out of a Dr. Seuss book.
9:01
Just all manner of creatures all over this thing.
Tembi Denton-HurstADVERTISER
12:16
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