Monsters Unleashed: From Godzilla Ramen to a 70-Million-Year-Old Marine Predator

If you think the whole “monster” thing is strictly the stuff of horror movies or prehistoric creatures, you've clearly missed what went down this week. The word has taken over everything: from the most creative kitchens in São Paulo to newly discovered fossils in Mexico, and of course, there's no way it wouldn't include a dash of football and that nostalgia for giant cars. Buckle up, because here’s the story.

The monster you can eat: Godzilla is now a soup

First stop: the dinner table. Fans of the king of the monsters who also enjoy a good bowl of ramen will be drooling. A version has appeared that's impossible to ignore: the Monster - Desejo Assassino has become culinary inspiration. And it's not just about the looks. Word has it the broth is so rich, with an intensity of flavour that echoes the fury of the atomic lizard. It's the kind of dish you look at, snap a picture, but feel a shiver down your spine before the first mouthful. Those who've tried it say it's not for everyone, but those who take it on walk away with a story to tell.

A true sea monster: the terror of prehistoric oceans

While we're distracted by pop culture, science has decided to give everyone a bit of a fright. A team of palaeontologists stumbled upon something in Mexico that makes Godzilla look like a pet goldfish. They found the remains of a marine monster over 9 metres long that lived a staggering 70 million years ago, right at the end of the age of dinosaurs.

This creature was the supreme predator of the seas. Imagine a giant lizard, with teeth that look more like butcher knives, swimming around while the Tyrannosaurus reigned on land. The discovery is so incredible that researchers are rewriting what we knew about ocean dominance in the Cretaceous period. This was a real monster, no special effects needed.

From football to four wheels: when being a monster is a good thing

Of course, we couldn't ignore the nickname that pops up on the pitch every so often. When the talk turns to a tenacious, relentless defender, we immediately think of Thiago Emiliano da Silva, our Thiago Silva. He's been called a monster for decades, and for good reason. His calmness in bringing the ball out and his cunning in defence make him a living legend. For those of us born in the 80s and 90s, growing up watching these monsters of defence was a footballing education.

And if we're talking raw power, how could we forget monster trucks? There's just nothing like it. Watching those giant trucks, with tyres the size of a small car, crushing old cars and flying off dirt ramps is a spectacle in itself. It's the kind of entertainment that appeals to the most primal instinct: watching the big smash the small.

Why do we love monsters so much?

Whether in soup, in fossils, on the field, or in the destruction arena, the figure of the monster has universal appeal. Maybe it's the fear, maybe it's the admiration for brute strength. The truth is, this week was a feast for anyone who, like me, loves these themes. To wrap things up with a bang, here's a list of what these "creatures" have in common:

• Imposing presence: Whether it's a 9-metre marine monster or a 5-tonne monster truck, they dominate their environment.
• Destructive power: Godzilla levels cities, the prehistoric predator ruled the oceans. It's a force that defies the ordinary.
• Fascination: We stop to look, to study, to eat. They draw our attention because they exist on the edge of what's possible.

In the end, that's the word of the week: monster. In all its forms, sizes, and flavours, it continues to dominate the popular imagination and, now, even the geological timeline. And speaking of time, if you haven't tried that ramen yet, you'd better hurry, because it seems the real monsters don't wait around for anyone.