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io9This Is Julia Child’s Recipe for Shark Repellent from Her Stint at the CIA
In 1943, a young Julia Child was working for the CIA on a slightly different recipe than the ones we remember her for—a shark repellent that was soon spread widely through government agencies. There was just one problem: it didn’t keep the sharks away at all. The CIA published documents from their archives, dating back … Continued
By Ria Misra -
Tech NewsSploidThe biggest shark ever filmed is basically the size of a blimp
Hey look, it’s Jaws in real life. Which should scare the bones out of land dwelling ol’ me but the sheer size of this giant monster great white shark is so ridiculously huge (I mean, it’s more blimp than shark), that I can’t help but laugh. Look at it dwarf the entire cage and treat … Continued
By Casey Chan -
io9
These Baboons Eat Shark Eggs
These are Chacma baboons. For the most part, they scavenge on land, but once every two weeks in the spring, they head out to the edge of the ocean to eat the babies of the sea’s alpha predator. Papio ursinus, or Chacma baboons, live around the southern tip of Africa. They’re notable for their size—males … Continued
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Tech NewsSploidA beached great white shark is still scary as hell
Even when we have home field advantage, a beached shark is still not something you want to see on a relaxing trip to the playa. Because for one, the shark baring its teeth and whipping its tail is still scary as hell even though it shouldn’t be able to reach you. But more importantly, because … Continued
By Casey Chan -
io9Researchers Discover Sharks Living In An Active Underwater Volcano
Scientists filming unexplored depths of the South Pacific have observed a surprising range of animals—including sharks, rays, and jellyfish—living inside Kavachi, a highly active undersea volcano near the Soloman Islands, a remote archipelago east of Papau New Guinea. The animals seem unruffled by what were presumed inhospitable temperatures and acidity. “The idea of there being … Continued
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io98 Antidotes to the Stupidity of “Shark Week”
This year, Discovery Channel promises Shark Week will feature fewer fake documentaries and more actual science. But with shows like “Return of the Great White Serial Killer” on the docket, it’s clear Discovery still has a lot to learn. For critically minded viewers, here are eight alternatives to those episodes of Shark Week still tainted … Continued
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Tech NewsSploidTerrifying great white shark attacking a cage is like real life Jaws
Oh. My. Holy. Bananas. This shark attack video from Hillary Rae shows an 11 and a half foot shark biting and gnawing and trying to rip open an underwater cage with such fury and abandon and ferocity that it looks like the killer beast might actually break through. You get an up close view of … Continued
By Casey Chan -
ScienceBiologyHere’s What’s Going on Inside a Mermaid’s Purse
Reef-dwelling catsharks wrap their fertilized eggs in leathery box-shaped cases commonly called “mermaid’s purses.” The tough, collagenous wall of the purse protects the developing young until it’s ready to hatch—anywhere from a month to a year after it’s laid, depending on its species. This short video from the Smithsonian Marine Station in Fort Pierce, Florida … Continued
By Diane Kelly -
ScienceBiology
40 Years of Bad Science: How Jaws Got Everything Wrong About Sharks
To celebrate the 40th anniversary of its original release, Jaws will be shown on the big screen once more on June 21st. Few other movies have cast such a long shadow into the “real” world as the first summer blockbuster. As a marine biologist whose research focuses on shark conservation, I’ve been living in that … Continued
David Shiffman -
io9Movies
Eli Roth May Direct Warner Bros.’ Giant Prehistoric Shark Movie
After being stuck in development purgatory for twenty years, Warner Bros. is finally moving forward with Meg, about a giant prehistoric shark terrorizing the coast. Variety reports that Warner Bros. is in talks to have Eli Roth direct the movie based on the 1997 book Meg: A Novel of Deep Terror by Steve Alten. Variety … Continued
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Tech NewsCalifornia Lifeguards Get Drone, Instantly Spot 10-12 Great Whites
Orange County’s Seal Beach is a popular spot for swimmers and surfers, so its lifeguards figured they’d use a camera drone to keep a better eye on them. But what they saw instead was “10 to 12 great white sharks just feet from shore.” “Sharks are kinda, like, my biggest fear so that’s, like, very … Continued
By Wes Siler -
Tech NewsSploidShort film: An underwater adventure begins when a proposal goes wrong
Taking the Plunge is a cute little short animation film that shows the hijinks a person could get into when he accidentally drops an engagement ring into the ocean. Meet an adorable sidekick octopus, dodge an evil giant shark, explore the underworld of the ocean and still manage to get the girl at the end. … Continued
By Casey Chan -
Tech NewsHere’s Why Sharks Have Two Penises
Cartilaginous fishes, like sharks and rays, are blessed with something called “claspers,” dual sperm-releasing tubes jutting from their pelvic fins. Why two? Thanks to a recent study published in the journal Nature Communications, we now know more about the sea creatures’ mysterious double dongs. Many animals, including humans, have a gene called Sonic hedgehog (Shh)—named … Continued
By Bryan Lufkin -
io9
Very Rare And Adorable Pocket Shark Discovered
Only the second pocket shark ever seen by humans was discovered by scientists during a study conducted by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration. The first pocket shark find was 36 years ago off the coast of Peru, and there hasn’t been another one seen until now. A young pocket shark was discovered during a … Continued
Molly Fosco - Discovery News -
ScienceBiology
This Tiny Shark Has Only Been Seen Once Before
This very small (and adorable) shark is only the second of its kind ever discovered, and he’s showing scientists how much we still have to learn about life under the sea. The first pocket shark find was 36 years ago off the coast of Peru. This second specimen, a 5.5 inch long juvenile, was discovered … Continued
By Maddie Stone -
Tech NewsSploidVideo: Terrified fish hides as a gang of sharks hunt right on top of it
This clip from Yann Arthus-Bertrand’s 2012 film Planet Ocean shows a parrotfish pulling one of the oldest tricks in the book to get away from sharks: it hides right next to coral while staying impossibly still as the sharks just swim right by it, over it and next to it while completely missing it. It’s … Continued
By Casey Chan -
io9Movies
Mosasaurus Grabs A Shark Snack In Latest Jurassic World Poster
My, what big teeth you have! Here’s the newest Jurassic World poster, released ahead of the new trailer which drops on Monday. It depicts Mosasaurus, “the immense seagoing lizard,” swimming up to nibble on what would normally be a pretty scary-looking shark, but here kinda resembles a Goldfish cracker.
By Cheryl Eddy -
Tech News
Basement Lion Is What Makes LA Great
Hollywood’s very own mountain lion is trapped in a basement right now. It’s a bizarre wildlife vs urbanization conflict, but it’s also indicative of what makes this city so special: its nature. I was on the phone with a colleague the other day when it came up that she’d never visited Los Angeles. She lives … Continued
By Wes Siler -
io9
An Extraordinary Photo Of A Bobcat Fishing For Sharks
Earlier this week, a Florida resident was taking a stroll along Vero Beach in Florida’s Sebastian Inlet State Park when he saw a bobcat staring at a shark that was feeding on smaller fish. But suddenly, the hunter became the hunted. As reported by ABC’s Florida affiliate Local 10, the photograph was captured by John … Continued
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Tech News
You Can Customize the Level of Gore Detail On This Jaws Shark Bust
It wasn’t until Star Wars stormed through theaters in 1977 that blockbuster movies came with toys and collectibles in tow. And since Jaws was released two years earlier, there has never really been a decent amount of shark-themed collectibles available for the film. At least until Shark City Ozark created this wonderfully detailed 1:6-scale Bruce … Continued