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

If you think "monster" is just the stuff of horror films or prehistoric creatures, you've clearly missed what's been happening 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, it wouldn't be complete without a bit of football and a dose of nostalgia for giant cars. Get ready, because here's the lowdown.

The monster you can eat: Godzilla is now a soup

Our first stop is the dining table. If you're a fan of the king of monsters and also love a good bowl of ramen, this is one that's got everyone talking. A new version has appeared that you simply can't ignore: Monster - Desejo Assassino has become culinary inspiration. And it's not just about the looks. They say the broth is so rich, with an intensity of flavour that brings to mind the fury of the atomic lizard. It's the kind of dish you look at, take a picture of, but feel a shiver down your spine before that first mouthful. Those who've tried it say it's not for everyone, but those brave enough to take it on walk away with a great story to tell.

A true marine monster: the terror of prehistoric oceans

While we're distracted by pop culture, science decided to give everyone a shock. 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 like butcher's knives, swimming around while the T-Rex ruled the land. The discovery is so incredible that researchers are rewriting what we knew about ocean dominance during the Cretaceous period. Now, this was a real monster, no special effects needed.

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

Of course, we couldn't ignore the nickname that pops up on football pitches now and then. When the talk turns to a tough, 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 composure when playing out from the back and his cleverness in marking make him a living legend. For those of us who grew up in the 80s and 90s, watching these defensive monsters was a proper football lesson.

And when we talk about raw power, how can we forget monster trucks? There's nothing quite like it. Seeing those gigantic 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 our most primal instinct: seeing the big crushing the small.

Why do we love a monster so much?

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

• Commanding presence: Whether it's a 9-metre marine monster or a 5-tonne monster truck, they dominate their environment.
• Power of destruction: 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 attention because they exist at the very limit of what is 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, hurry up, because it seems the real monsters wait for no one.