Scientist tracking 'biggest ever' shark gives urgent warning to tourists
Dr Harley Newton, chief scientist and veterinarian for OCEARCH, from Jacksonville, Florida, has dedicated her career to studying sharks - including 14ft Contender
A scientist tracking the world's largest 14ft great white shark has warned tourists to avoid wearing one particular item when it comes to escaping predators.
"Contender", a 30-year-old male predator, was tagged in the North Atlantic by OCEARCH, a non-profit research organisation, 45 miles off the Florida-Georgia coast, off Jacksonville in January.
The beast later pinged in Pamlico Sound in North Carolina earlier this month. Dr Harley Newton, chief scientist and veterinarian for OCEARCH, from Jacksonville, Florida, has dedicated her career to studying sharks - including Contender - and educating the public.
The expert has revealed the surprising thing you should avoid wearing when swimming in the ocean - and what do to if you do come face to face with a predator.
Her advice includes avoiding dawn and dusk swims, staying close to shore, swimming with a buddy, and avoid wearing "shiny" objects like jewellery.
She also warned tourists to maintain visual contact if you spot a shark, backing away slowly while facing it. While shark attacks are rare, she stresses awareness and respect for the ocean. "The ocean is a wild place," Dr Newton said.
"If you see schools of fish, particularly if they're jumping out of the water, that might be something that you want to move away from because that's going to be very attractive for sharks, and it might help you avoid an accident or an incident."
There have been a number of other reports of shark incidents in recent days - including a nine-year-old girl nearly had her hand bitten off near Boca Grande, Florida.
While shark attacks are extremely rare, Dr. Newton advises that maintaining visual contact with an aggressive shark is crucial for safety.
As a last resort, striking the shark's nose may deter it; however, this should only be attempted if necessary.
According to Dr. Newton, bull sharks and tiger sharks are considered among the most dangerous species due to their size, strength, and habitat preferences that bring them into contact with humans.
She notes that all sharks should be treated with caution and respect. Dr Newton is passionate about correcting myths about sharks.
Contrary to popular belief, sharks can get cancer, and they can't actually smell blood from miles away - the max distance the length of an Olympic-size swimming pool. They are also not mindless man-eaters seeking human prey.
"They are most often looking for prey or typical prey items when there are interactions with humans," Dr. Newton said. "They're not out there actively looking for humans. They're looking for the typical prey that they would want to eat."
OCEARCH's tracking of Contender has also provided valuable data about great white shark migration patterns.
Its movements from Florida northward along the Atlantic coast have provided researchers with unprecedented insights into the behavior of adult male sharks.
"Catching an adult male shark in January was a new data point for us," Dr. Newton noted. "We were really excited to catch him, tag him, sample him, and release him."
This tracking effort helps scientists understand shark habitat use and identify areas where human and shark activities overlap, potentially reducing the risk of negative interactions between them.
The ongoing monitoring of Contender and other sharks contributes to both conservation efforts and public safety by providing real-time data about shark movements and behavior patterns.
This knowledge allows for more informed beach management decisions and helps educate the public about sharing the ocean with these apex predators.
As summer approaches and more people head to beaches along the Atlantic coast, Dr. Newton emphasizes that awareness and respect for the ocean environment are key to staying safe.
"Understanding that we're entering their habitat is important," Dr. Newton said.
She added: "Sharks play a vital role in maintaining healthy ocean ecosystems, and with some simple precautions, we can safely enjoy the water while respecting these magnificent animals that have been evolving for over 400 million years."
TIPS
Avoid swimming at dawn or dusk when sharks are most active and hunting
Stay close to shore where you can quickly exit the water if needed
Always swim with a buddy rather than venturing into the ocean alone
Remove shiny jewelry or accessories that might resemble fish scales and attract sharks
Be aware of your surroundings, especially schools of fish jumping out of water, which could indicate predator presence
Move away from areas with fishing activity, as bait and injured fish can attract sharks
Maintain visual contact if you spot a shark, backing away slowly while facing it
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Daily Record
5 days ago
- Daily Record
Massive thread of hot gas found linking galaxies and it's 10 times the mass of the Milky Way
The thread could contain some of the Universe's 'missing' matter, addressing a decades-long mystery Astronomers have uncovered a colossal, searing-hot filament of gas linking four galaxy clusters in the Shapley Supercluster - a discovery that could finally solve the mystery of the Universe's missing matter. This giant thread, 10 times the mass of the Milky Way and stretching 23 million light-years, is one of the best confirmations yet that vast, faint filaments connect the Universe's largest structures in a cosmic web. Over one-third of the 'normal' matter in the local Universe - the visible stuff making up stars, planets, galaxies, life - is missing. It hasn't yet been seen, but it's needed to make our models of the cosmos work properly, NASA says. Said models suggest that this elusive matter might exist in long strings of gas, or filaments, bridging the densest pockets of space. "While we've spotted filaments before, it's tricky to make out their properties," said lead researcher Konstantinos Migkas of Leiden Observatory in the Netherlands. "They're faint, making it difficult to isolate their light from that of any galaxies, black holes, and other objects lying nearby. "For the first time, our results closely match what we see in our leading model of the cosmos - something that's not happened before. It seems that the simulations were right all along." Clocking in at over 10 million degrees, the filament contains around 10 times the mass of the Milky Way and connects four galaxy clusters - two on one end, two on the other. All are part of the Shapley Supercluster, a collection of more than 8000 galaxies that forms one of the most massive structures in the nearby Universe. The filament stretches diagonally away from us through the supercluster for 23 million light-years, the equivalent of traversing the Milky Way end to end around 230 times. The astronomers used the European Space Agency's XMM-Newton and JAXA's Suzaku X-ray space telescopes to make the discovery. "Thanks to XMM-Newton we could identify and remove these cosmic contaminants, so we knew we were looking at the gas in the filament and nothing else," co-author Florian Pacaud of the University of Bonn, Germany, added. "Our approach was really successful, and reveals that the filament is exactly as we'd expect from our best large-scale simulations of the Universe." As well as unveiling a huge and previously unseen thread of matter running through the nearby cosmos, the finding shows how some of the densest and most extreme structures in the Universe - galaxy clusters - are connected over colossal distances. It also sheds light on the very nature of the 'cosmic web', the vast, invisible cobweb of filaments that underpins the structure of everything we see around us. "This research... reinforces our standard model of the cosmos and validates decades of simulations," Norbert Schartel, ESA XMM-Newton Project Scientist, added. "It seems that the 'missing' matter may truly be lurking in hard-to-see threads woven across the Universe." Join the Daily Record WhatsApp community! Get the latest news sent straight to your messages by joining our WhatsApp community today. You'll receive daily updates on breaking news as well as the top headlines across Scotland. No one will be able to see who is signed up and no one can send messages except the Daily Record team. All you have to do is click here if you're on mobile, select 'Join Community' and you're in! If you're on a desktop, simply scan the QR code above with your phone and click 'Join Community'. We also treat our community members to special offers, promotions, and adverts from us and our partners. If you don't like our community, you can check out any time you like. To leave our community click on the name at the top of your screen and choose 'exit group'.
Daily Mirror
7 days ago
- Daily Mirror
Tiny robots 'could help fix leaky water pipes without having to dig up roads'
The futuristic tiny robots could spot issues with pipes before they even become a problem - and would mean workers no longer have to dig up roads, potentially saving the UK economy billions 'Revolutionary' tiny robots could help end Britain's pothole misery by inspecting leaky water pipes without having to dig up roads, researchers say. The futuristic miniature machines - called "Pipebots" - are the same size as a toy car, and can track down leaks underground. Scientists now how the pipebots could "revolutionise" how water infrastructure is managed, and help save some of the three billion litres of water lost through leaky pipes everyday day in England and Wales. Experts from the University of Sheffield say the robots they developed can explore water pipes to check for cracks and faults, identifying potential issues before they even become a problem. Road works to repair utilities cost the UK economy at least £4 billion per year, and can cause disruption to businesses and residents. Much of the UK's ageing water network dates back to the Victorian era, and totals more than 215,000 miles in length. Every day, enough water to fill 1,200 Olympic swimming pools is leaked - but currently, the only way for human workers to pinpoint the flaw is by digging and locating a leak in the maze of pipes, a process that proves costly for both businesses and residents. Now, researchers from the University of Sheffield's School of Mechanical, Aerospace and Civil Engineering, working with colleagues at the universities of Birmingham, Bristol and Leeds, say they have developed a range of miniature robots with new sensors that can travel through pipes and check for defects autonomously. The smallest of the robots measures just 40mm (1.5 inches) wide, and all the bots are equipped with tiny, high-spec acoustic sensors and cameras, which enable them to navigate and detect faults freely. Without the need to dig up roads or pavements, the research team say a Pipebot "swarm" can be placed in a deployment hub and lowered into a water pipe through a hydrant by an engineer. The tiny bots will then explore the area, scan for faults, and relay data back to the engineer above ground. The research team say the Pipebots are "intelligent" and will avoid any restricted areas, such as customer connections, and work together to clear areas quickly and efficiently. The Pipebots are equipped with all-terrain legs which enable them to navigate through any difficult paths they might encounter while underground, andcan also "talk" to each other to carry out tasks and problem solve. Hailing the development, Programme director Professor Kirill Horoshenkov said: 'Leaky water pipes are one of the biggest issues facing the water industry, not just here in the UK, but also globally as companies and governments grapple with ageing infrastructure. "Whilst pipe inspection technologies have improved, it is still incredibly difficult to monitor the condition of water pipes and find leaks in these vast networks, especially when the leaks are small. 'The Pipebots we have developed could revolutionise how we maintain our water infrastructure and could significantly reduce the estimated three billion litres of water lost daily in England and Wales. The bots would lessen the strain on resources and potentially save the UK economy part of the £4 billion lost annually due to utility street works and related disruptions." Aside from water pipes, the bots are capable of operating in other environments, he said, including sewers, gas pipes and dangerous sites that are inaccessible to humans.
Daily Mirror
19-06-2025
- Daily Mirror
Scientist tracking 'biggest ever' shark gives urgent warning to tourists
Dr Harley Newton, chief scientist and veterinarian for OCEARCH, from Jacksonville, Florida, has dedicated her career to studying sharks - including 14ft Contender A scientist tracking the world's largest 14ft great white shark has warned tourists to avoid wearing one particular item when it comes to escaping predators. "Contender", a 30-year-old male predator, was tagged in the North Atlantic by OCEARCH, a non-profit research organisation, 45 miles off the Florida-Georgia coast, off Jacksonville in January. The beast later pinged in Pamlico Sound in North Carolina earlier this month. Dr Harley Newton, chief scientist and veterinarian for OCEARCH, from Jacksonville, Florida, has dedicated her career to studying sharks - including Contender - and educating the public. The expert has revealed the surprising thing you should avoid wearing when swimming in the ocean - and what do to if you do come face to face with a predator. Her advice includes avoiding dawn and dusk swims, staying close to shore, swimming with a buddy, and avoid wearing "shiny" objects like jewellery. She also warned tourists to maintain visual contact if you spot a shark, backing away slowly while facing it. While shark attacks are rare, she stresses awareness and respect for the ocean. "The ocean is a wild place," Dr Newton said. "If you see schools of fish, particularly if they're jumping out of the water, that might be something that you want to move away from because that's going to be very attractive for sharks, and it might help you avoid an accident or an incident." There have been a number of other reports of shark incidents in recent days - including a nine-year-old girl nearly had her hand bitten off near Boca Grande, Florida. While shark attacks are extremely rare, Dr. Newton advises that maintaining visual contact with an aggressive shark is crucial for safety. As a last resort, striking the shark's nose may deter it; however, this should only be attempted if necessary. According to Dr. Newton, bull sharks and tiger sharks are considered among the most dangerous species due to their size, strength, and habitat preferences that bring them into contact with humans. She notes that all sharks should be treated with caution and respect. Dr Newton is passionate about correcting myths about sharks. Contrary to popular belief, sharks can get cancer, and they can't actually smell blood from miles away - the max distance the length of an Olympic-size swimming pool. They are also not mindless man-eaters seeking human prey. "They are most often looking for prey or typical prey items when there are interactions with humans," Dr. Newton said. "They're not out there actively looking for humans. They're looking for the typical prey that they would want to eat." OCEARCH's tracking of Contender has also provided valuable data about great white shark migration patterns. Its movements from Florida northward along the Atlantic coast have provided researchers with unprecedented insights into the behavior of adult male sharks. "Catching an adult male shark in January was a new data point for us," Dr. Newton noted. "We were really excited to catch him, tag him, sample him, and release him." This tracking effort helps scientists understand shark habitat use and identify areas where human and shark activities overlap, potentially reducing the risk of negative interactions between them. The ongoing monitoring of Contender and other sharks contributes to both conservation efforts and public safety by providing real-time data about shark movements and behavior patterns. This knowledge allows for more informed beach management decisions and helps educate the public about sharing the ocean with these apex predators. As summer approaches and more people head to beaches along the Atlantic coast, Dr. Newton emphasizes that awareness and respect for the ocean environment are key to staying safe. "Understanding that we're entering their habitat is important," Dr. Newton said. She added: "Sharks play a vital role in maintaining healthy ocean ecosystems, and with some simple precautions, we can safely enjoy the water while respecting these magnificent animals that have been evolving for over 400 million years." TIPS Avoid swimming at dawn or dusk when sharks are most active and hunting Stay close to shore where you can quickly exit the water if needed Always swim with a buddy rather than venturing into the ocean alone Remove shiny jewelry or accessories that might resemble fish scales and attract sharks Be aware of your surroundings, especially schools of fish jumping out of water, which could indicate predator presence Move away from areas with fishing activity, as bait and injured fish can attract sharks Maintain visual contact if you spot a shark, backing away slowly while facing it
