We are terrified of sharks, largely thanks to their reputation as vicious killers. Shark attacks are rare but appear to be rising: There were 98 unprovoked attacks worldwide in 2015, six fatal. There are three particularly notorious species: tiger sharks, great whites, and oceanic whitetips. On the other hand, a lesser known fact is the crucial role sharks play in ocean ecology. Recently, scientists have been shedding new light on these enigmatic creatures that are seemingly vital to the seas, and not as scary as you might think.