So I asked leading shark ethologist and behaviourist, Professor Samuel 'doc' Gruber to elaborate. After pointing out how much pain women feel when they give birth, making the point that suffering has no effect on reproduction, he reminded me that sharks evolved their mating behaviours and the physical structures involved, separately from other animals.
Contrary to expectations, an international team of scientists has shown that the diversity of sharks and rays has steadily declined since its peak roughly 45 million years ago, highlighting fresh concerns for today’s threatened species.
A new study has found meat from critically endangered sharks being sold in US grocery stores under misleading labels. Researchers warn that the trade not only threatens vulnerable shark populations but also exposes consumers to potential health risks, including high levels of mercury.
Australian researchers have developed and tested new wetsuit materials designed to reduce injuries from shark bites. The results suggest that bite-resistant fabrics could lessen blood loss and tissue damage for surfers, divers, and swimmers—but they cannot prevent all injuries, nor replace safe behaviour in the water.
But a new study suggests that this toothy advantage may be under threat.
A team of German scientists has discovered that ocean acidification—caused by rising carbon dioxide levels in the atmosphere—could interfere with sharks’ ability to regrow their teeth, potentially making it harder for them to hunt and feed effectively.
Unlike human teeth, which are protected by gums, shark teeth are exposed directly to seawater. This makes them especially vulnerable to changes in the ocean’s chemistry, particularly shifts in pH levels.
Scientists have long wondered how sharks manage these epic journeys. Many species migrate seasonally, some cross entire ocean basins, and others return to their birthplace after years away. Unlike seabirds or turtles, they do not surface for landmarks or rely on familiar coastlines. So what is their secret?
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Divers who once routinely saw reef sharks now swim for hours without a single glimpse. Entire regions of open ocean that once hosted blue sharks or hammerheads have gone strangely quiet. The question many scientists and ocean-lovers are now asking is both unsettling and urgent: Where are all the sharks going?
In a world-first, marine researchers in New Zealand have recorded rig sharks (Mustelus lenticulatus) producing clicking noises underwater. Their study documenting this remarkable behaviour by the small, bottom-dwelling shark, found around New Zealand’s coast, is making waves in the scientific community.
Unlike many fish that use swim bladders to make sounds, sharks don't have that option. So how are these clicks happening?
A new study, led by Dr Eric E. G. Clua, has analysed decades of shark bite incidents in French Polynesia and found that certain human activities—especially spearfishing and handling fish traps—can trigger defensive bites from sharks. These bites are different from predatory attacks in that they result from a situation in which the shark feels threatened, often after a human has behaved aggressively towards it, whether intentionally or not.
Shark attacks are often sensationalized, reinforcing the perception of sharks as mindless predators. However, new research conducted in French Polynesia indicates that a small number of shark bites may be defensive reactions triggered by human behavior perceived as threatening. These findings challenge long-standing assumptions about shark motivations and call for a shift in how such incidents are interpreted.
