Giant ancient sharks had enormous babies that ate their siblings in the womb

New fossil detective work sheds light on the life of megalodon, the biggest predatory shark ever discovered.

Tom Fletcher, Honorary Research Fellow in Palaeobiology, University of Leicester • conversation
Jan. 11, 2021 • ~5 min

Basking sharks travel in extended families with their own 'gourmet maps' of feeding spots, genetic tagging reveals

The latest research reveals basking sharks are not lone predators but rather family-minded creatures with a fancy for fine dining with their own folk.

Lilian Lieber, Research Fellow in the Bryden Centre, School of Chemistry and Chemical Engineering, Queen's University Belfast • conversation
Dec. 4, 2020 • ~8 min

Prehistoric sharks hid their biggest, sharpest teeth

Prehistoric sharks rotated their jaws keeping larger, sharper teeth in an upright position, making it "easier for them to impale their prey."

U. Zurich • futurity
Nov. 23, 2020 • ~4 min

Sharks are disappearing from the world’s oceans

A new study of shark populations in 58 countries around the world detected none in almost 20% of the locations surveyed.

Keith Randall-Texas A&M • futurity
July 23, 2020 • ~5 min

Scientists at work: Uncovering the mystery of when and where sharks give birth

Researchers are using a newly developed satellite tag to study previously unknown aspects of tiger shark reproduction. This approach could be used on other difficult-to-study shark species.

Hannah Verkamp, PhD Student in Marine Biology, Arizona State University • conversation
April 28, 2020 • ~9 min

Nuclear traces reveal the ages of whale sharks

Scientists used a measure of lingering radioactivity from nuclear explosions to estimate the age of whale sharks, an endangered species.

Todd Bates-Rutgers • futurity
April 6, 2020 • ~4 min

Tagging data show that blue sharks are true globalists

You won't see a blue shark near the beach, but thanks to 50 years of tagging data, scientists are learning about their wide-ranging lives at sea.

Jasmin Graham, Ph.D. Candidate in Marine Science, Florida State University • conversation
March 24, 2020 • ~5 min

We've just discovered two new shark species – but they may already be threatened by fishing

Scientists thought there was only one sixgill sawshark species – until now.

Andrew Temple, Postdoctoral Research Associate in Marine Biology, Newcastle University • conversation
March 18, 2020 • ~6 min

‘Walking sharks’ use their fins to stroll around

The "ability to withstand low oxygen environments and walk on their fins gives them a remarkable edge over their prey of small crustaceans and mollusks."

U. Queensland • futurity
Feb. 3, 2020 • ~3 min

Shark attacks were ‘unusually low’ in 2019

Shark attacks in 2019 were unusually low for the second year running, but the elusive foot-long cookiecutter shark scored a personal best with three.

Natalie van Hoose-Florida • futurity
Jan. 22, 2020 • ~7 min

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