logo
Atlantic's largest Great White Shark resurfaces near US coastline after months

Atlantic's largest Great White Shark resurfaces near US coastline after months

Time of India12-06-2025
Source: New York Post
A record-breaking Great White Shark named Contender is making headlines as it journeys along the US East Coast, surfacing near a popular vacation region. Measuring an astonishing 14 feet in length and weighing approximately 1,653 pounds, Contender is the largest Great White Shark ever tagged in the Atlantic Ocean.
According to the reports, the Great White Shark was first tracked in January 2025 by OCEARCH, a nonprofit research organisation dedicated to marine research. This massive predator was tagged off the Florida-Georgia coast, near Jacksonville.
According to the New York Post reports, after nearly a month without signal, the shark recently resurfaced off Pamlico Sound in North Carolina, sending waves of excitement through the scientific community and ocean enthusiasts alike.
Contender's movements mark a vital feeding stop during his seasonal migration northward, according to what the experts say.
14-foot Great White Shark
Contender reappears after vanishing
The Great White Shark nicknamed as Contender, is a 14-foot, 1,653-pound predator that was first tagged in January 2025 by OCEARCH, a leading nonprofit research organisation focused on large marine species. The shark was located roughly 45 miles off the Florida-Georgia coast, near Jacksonville.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting
Luxeartisanship
Buy Now
Undo
After disappearing from trackers for almost a month, Contender resurfaced northward off Pamlico Sound in North Carolina.
The absence was due to how its tracker functions; it only transmits location data when the dorsal fin breaks the surface of the water, making updates sporadic. Contender is estimated to be about 30 years old, placing it among the oldest documented Great White Sharks currently being monitored. According to Dr.
Harley Newton, OCEARCH's chief scientist and veterinarian based in Ponte Vedra, Florida, this movement aligns with known migratory behaviour.
North Carolina waters serve as key feeding stop for migrating great whites
This deviation to North Carolina's coastal waters is believed to be a crucial feeding period. Experts suggest that this region offers an abundance of food that allows sharks like Contender to build energy reserves in preparation for a northward journey that could span over 1,000 miles.
Dr. Newton added, 'We often observe tagged sharks lingering off the Outer Banks before continuing their migration. The availability of prey makes this area an important pre-departure refuelling site.
'
How OCEARCH tags and tracks sharks
The tagging process for Contender was extensive and carefully executed. Researchers captured the shark alongside their specialised research vessel, collected biological samples for further analysis, and fitted a SPOT (Smart Position or Temperature Transmitting) satellite tag to its dorsal fin.
This SPOT tag allows real-time GPS tracking when the shark surfaces. Both scientists and the public can follow its movements through OCEARCH's Global Shark Tracker, an open-access digital platform.
Role of sharks in
marine conservation
Data collected from Contender and other sharks play a vital role in marine conservation. By studying their migratory routes and behaviours, researchers can identify critical habitats that need protection. Great white sharks are apex predators and play an essential role in balancing marine ecosystems by regulating prey populations. However, they face growing threats from overfishing, habitat degradation, and the ongoing impacts of climate change.
Also Read |
US man finds snake giving 'saucy looks' from dashboard; Mazda's hilarious 'Try Beyoncé' reply goes viral
Orange background

Try Our AI Features

Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:

Comments

No comments yet...

Related Articles

Nisar mission to benefit global community in earth observation: Isro chief
Nisar mission to benefit global community in earth observation: Isro chief

Time of India

time4 hours ago

  • Time of India

Nisar mission to benefit global community in earth observation: Isro chief

Nisar mission TIRUCHIRAPALLI: The Nisar mission , jointly developed by Isro and the national aeronautics and space administration ( Nasa ), would significantly benefit the global community in earth observation , Isro chairman V Narayanan said here on Saturday. The GSLV-F16/Nisar Mission is the result of over a decade of robust technical cooperation between the two teams of Isro and Nasa-jet propulsion laboratory, US. According to Isro , the mission in itself has got a lot of firsts -- it is the first mission to carry dual-band radar satellite, a GSLV rocket will carry a satellite to be placed in Sunsynchronous Orbit (unlike PSLV rockets) and it is the first Isro-Nasa Earth Observation Mission. Nisar, which is short for Nasa-Isro synthetic aperture radar (Nisar), would help scientists comprehensively monitor Earth's land and ice surfaces, building a detailed record of large and small changes over time. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Jakarta: Unsold Sofas May Be at Bargain Prices (Prices May Surprise You) Sofas | Search Ads Search Now Undo The mission would also be crucial in helping the scientific community to gain a better understanding of the processes involved during natural calamities like earthquakes, volcanic eruptions and landslides. As per the collaboration between Isro and Nasa, the rocket would carry a unique earth observation satellite with a dual-frequency radar provided by Nasa's L-Band and Isro's S-Band. The Radar would use Nasa's 12 metre mesh reflector antenna that has been integrated into ISRO's I3K satellite bus. Speaking to reporters here, Narayanan said, "Nasa-Isro Synthetic Aperture Radar (Nisar) satellite launch will be done using our GSLV-MkII vehicle ( GSLV-F16 ). The payloads are jointly realised by Isro and Jet Propulsion Laboratory (JPL), USA. This satellite is going to be useful for the global community in earth observation and disaster mitigation areas." "The Mission is also a very, very important as Isro would be making the 102nd launch from Indian soil that is targeted on July 30, 5.40 pm (from Sriharikota)", Narayanan also the secretary, department of space, said. Weighing 2,392 kg, the satellite would observe the earth with a swath of 242 km and high spatial resolution, using SweepSAR technology for the first time, Isro said. The satellite would scan the entire globe and provide all weather, day and night data at 12-day interval and enable a wide range of applications. The radar can detect even small changes in the Earth's surface such as ground deformation, ice-sheet movement and vegetation dynamics. Some of the other applications are ship detection, shoreline monitoring, storm characterisation, changes in soil moisture, mapping and monitoring of surface water resources and disaster response, the space agency said. Nisar would provide scientific information about the Earth's processes and it would study key changes in Earth's land and ice. The mission would also be more powerful than previous Synthetic Aperture Radar missions as it will monitor parts of Earth which are not previously covered.

THIS simple exercise may boost longevity; can add as many as 6 years!
THIS simple exercise may boost longevity; can add as many as 6 years!

Time of India

time8 hours ago

  • Time of India

THIS simple exercise may boost longevity; can add as many as 6 years!

A Copenhagen City Heart Study revealed that regular jogging significantly increases longevity. Men who jogged lived 6.2 years longer, while women gained 5.6 years. Living a whole life without diseases is every human being's dream. Longevity is not just about how many years you live; being healthy is also a crucial part of it. If you want to live longer and healthier, then exercise is non-negotiable. A study has shown that one type of exercise can dramatically increase life expectancy. A 2012 study led by researchers at the Copenhagen City Heart found that this exercise can add over five years to your life. The findings are published in Science Direct . Exercise and life expectancy (Pic courtesy: iStock) The study found that men who jogged regularly live 6.2 years longer, while women may get an additional 5.6 years. "The results of our research allow us to definitively answer the question of whether jogging is good for your health. We can say with certainty that regular jogging increases longevity. The good news is that you don't actually need to do that much to reap the benefits" Schnohr, chief cardiologist of the Copenhagen City Heart Study, said. Debates about the impact of jogging on health first came up in the 1970s when middle-aged men took an interest in the pastime. "After a few men died while out on a run, various newspapers suggested that jogging might be too strenuous for ordinary middle-aged people," Schnohr recalled. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like AirSense 11 – Smart tech for deep sleep ResMed Buy Now Undo The long-term study, which began in 1976, reviewed data from over 20,000 men and women aged 20 to 93. For the jogging sub-study, researchers compared mortality rates between 1,116 male joggers and 762 female joggers with non-joggers. The participants were asked to answer questions about the amount of time they spent jogging each week, and to rate their own perceptions of pace (defined as slow, average, and fast). "With participants having such a wide age span, we felt that a subjective scale of intensity was the most appropriate approach," Schnohr, who is based at Bispebjerg University Hospital, Copenhagen, explained. The first data was collected between 1976 to 1978, the second from 1981 to 1983, the third from 1991 to 1994, and the fourth from 2001 to 2003. The participants were tracked using a unique ID number in the Danish Central Person Register. "These numbers have been key to the success of the study since they've allowed us to trace participants wherever they go," Schnohr added. What did they find There were 10,158 deaths among the non-joggers and 122 deaths among the joggers, in a follow-up period of a maximum of 35 years. The researchers found that the risk of death was reduced by 44% for male joggers and 44% for female joggers. Further data showed that jogging added 6.2 years of life in men and 5.6 years in women. The best outcomes were seen in people who jogged for one to two and a half hours every week, spread over two to three sessions, particularly at a slow or moderate pace. The researchers also noted that the pace really matters. The ideal pace can be achieved by striving to feel a little breathless. "You should aim to feel a little breathless, but not very breathless," he added. Jagdeep Dhankhar Resigns as Vice President on First Day of Parliament's Monsoon Session Jogging also improved oxygen uptake, increased insulin sensitivity, improved lipid profiles (raising HDL and lowering triglycerides), lowered blood pressure, reduced platelet aggregation, increased fibrinolytic activity, improved cardiac function, bone density, immune function, reduced inflammation markers, prevented obesity, and improves psychological function. "The improved psychological wellbeing may be down to the fact that people have more social interactions when they're out jogging," Schnohr said.

Trump's NASA budget cuts could compromise human safety, warn hundreds of agency employees in open letter
Trump's NASA budget cuts could compromise human safety, warn hundreds of agency employees in open letter

Time of India

time9 hours ago

  • Time of India

Trump's NASA budget cuts could compromise human safety, warn hundreds of agency employees in open letter

According to NASA scientists, impending budget cuts could jeopardise mission safety and open the door for another catastrophe similar to the Challenger disaster in 1986. According to Kyle Helson, a research scientist at the NASA Goddard Space Flight Centre and the University of Maryland , "when you're talking about cuts that appear unstrategic and unthoroughly researched and not motivated by actual improvements in mission safety, then you start to get people worried," he told Megan Williams, guest host on If You Happen. Explore courses from Top Institutes in Please select course: Select a Course Category Technology Design Thinking others PGDM Finance Healthcare Product Management CXO Degree Public Policy MCA healthcare Operations Management Project Management Digital Marketing Leadership Data Science Data Science Data Analytics Cybersecurity MBA Artificial Intelligence Management Others Skills you'll gain: Duration: 12 Weeks MIT xPRO CERT-MIT XPRO Building AI Prod India Starts on undefined Get Details In an open letter, Helson joins 362 other NASA personnel, both past and present, who have expressed concern about "recent policies that have or threaten to waste public resources, compromise human safety, weaken national security, and undermine the core NASA mission." by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Learn More - How Watching Videos Can Boost Your Income TheDaddest Undo NASA official Bethany Stevens downplayed the worries in an email to CBC. "NASA will always prioritise safety. Any cuts, including the one we're making voluntarily right now, will be made to safeguard roles that are vital to safety," she stated. Live Events US savings of $6 billion are being proposed President Donald Trump of the United States is proposing a 25% budget decrease for NASA overall, or around $6 billion US ($8.22 billion Cdn), and a 50% cut for the scientific research division. "President Trump has proposed billions of dollars for NASA science, demonstrating an ongoing commitment to communicating our scientific achievements," Stevens stated. According to Helson, that is radically dishonest but technically true. "That's like saying your bicycle is missing one wheel, but don't worry, you've still got another wheel," said the man. The Congress that controls NASA's budget has not yet approved Trump's cuts. However, a number of senior officials stated they will proceed with them regardless in audio that was leaked from a NASA town hall meeting last month. The leading Democrats on a House committee that is in charge of NASA's budget, Zoe Lofgren and Valerie P. Foushee, have stated that it would be "flatly illegal" and "offensive to our constitutional system" to impose the cuts too soon. NASA has been urged by the bipartisan committee to refrain from making the changes. Fears of retaliation Addressed to Secretary of Transportation Sean Duffy, whom Trump named interim NASA administrator earlier this month, is the open letter known as The Voyager Declaration. Calls for comment were sent to NASA by Duffy's office. In particular, the declaration highlights worries that if NASA keeps going in this direction, current missions will be cancelled, important scientific data will be lost, international partners will be dropped, development programs will be discontinued, staffing will be completely cut, and safety precautions will be reduced. It comes after similar open letters were sent by employees of the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) and the National Institutes of Health (NIH), the latter of which suspended 144 of the signatories. Similar retaliation is feared by NASA employees Only four signatories who currently work with NASA are willing to speak out on record, and about half of those who signed the letter did so anonymously, according to NIH and EPA representatives and Stand Up For Science, the group that organised the letter. Among those four, Helson claims that the only reason he feels comfortable speaking is because he works with NASA in collaboration with the University of Maryland, Baltimore County, which he claims allows him greater academic freedom than those who work directly for NASA. "A lot of my coworkers who are civil servants are very afraid right now, and so I want to use what I perceive to be my advantages in my position to speak out on their behalf," he stated. "People are afraid that they're going to lose their job." When CBC asked NASA if it would take revenge on the signatories to the letter, NASA did not answer. The letter is formatted as an act of "Formal Dissent," a reference to a NASA policy that gives staff members the right to voice their opinions on choices they feel are "not in the best interest of NASA." The New York Times claims that the policy was implemented in response to the fatal Challenger space shuttle disaster in 1986 and the Columbia space shuttle disaster in 2003, when some engineers' concerns were dismissed. All seven of the astronauts on board perished when the Challenger broke apart seconds into its ascent on January 28, 1986. On February 1, 2003, the seven-person crew of the Columbia perished when it broke apart during re-entry. Signatories to the letter express concern that the changes will affect other programs intended to avoid such tragedies. "The culture of organisational silence promoted at NASA over the last six months already represents a dangerous turn away from the lessons learnt following the Columbia disaster," the letter continues. The Official Declaration of Voyager sent by signatories of ex-NASA and NASA officials to NASA's Interim Administrator Duffy Dear Interim Administrator Duffy, In light of your recent appointment as Interim NASA Administrator, we bring to your attention recent policies that have or threaten to waste public resources, compromise human safety, weaken national security, and undermine the core NASA mission. We, the signatories of this letter, dissent from these policies, and raise these concerns because we believe strongly in the importance of NASA's mission, which we are dedicated to uphold. Major programmatic shifts at NASA must be implemented strategically so that risks are managed carefully. Instead, the last six months have seen rapid and wasteful changes which have undermined our mission and caused catastrophic impacts on NASA's workforce. We are compelled to speak up when our leadership prioritizes political momentum over human safety, scientific advancement, and efficient use of public resources. These cuts are arbitrary and have been enacted in defiance of congressional appropriations law. The consequences for the agency and the country alike are dire. Main concerns raised by the officials 1) The officials oppose any modifications to NASA's Technical Authority capabilities that are motivated by factors other than mission assurance and safety. Already, the organisational quiet culture that NASA has fostered over the past six months is a risky departure from the lessons learnt in the wake of the Columbia tragedy. The Technical Authority system should only be altered to improve safety, not in anticipation of future budget cuts, as was proposed at the NASA Town Hall on June 25. 2) The officials oppose the termination of missions for which Congress has approved funds because it would permanently deprive the United States of its ability to operate both on Earth and in space. Operational spacecraft cannot be restarted after they are decommissioned. Furthermore, the next generation of vital observations could be lost if missions in development are cancelled. 3) Because indiscriminate cuts to NASA's scientific and aeronautics research would deprive the American people of the special public benefit that NASA offers, the officials oppose their implementation. Fundamental space science, aviation, and environmental stewardship research are fundamentally governmental tasks that the private sector cannot and will not undertake. Additionally, NASA promotes national security by ensuring that the United States maintains its leadership in science and technology, and it generates economic activity that roughly triples the return on investment. 4) Because NASA's non-strategic staffing reductions will compromise the agency's primary mission, the officials oppose them. In the process of terminating, resigning, or retiring early thousands of NASA civil servants have taken with them highly specialised, irreplaceable knowledge that is essential to NASA's mission. 5) The officials oppose NASA's decision to stop participating in foreign missions because it would be betraying America's allies. The Artemis Accords have been ratified by 55 countries to date, and NASA's position as the global leader in space exploration is in jeopardy if we stop supporting missions with our longstanding partners at the European Space Agency (ESA), Canadian Space Agency (CSA), Japan Aerospace Exploration Agency (JAXA), and others. 6) Because it hurts state and local economies nationwide, the officials oppose the cancellation of NASA funding and contracts for non-performance-related reasons. By eliminating competitive grant selection procedures, arbitrary contract and grant termination undermines private entrepreneurship and lowers the amount of private sector jobs related to the space economy. 7) Because it diminishes NASA's ability to innovate for the good of humanity, the officials oppose the termination of programs designed to train and support the agency's personnel. The agency's primary value of inclusion is squarely at odds with cuts to diversity, equity, inclusion, and accessible programming that have already been put into place. The country's future space economy workforce would suffer a severe damage if the Office of STEM Engagement were abolished.

DOWNLOAD THE APP

Get Started Now: Download the App

Ready to dive into a world of global content with local flavor? Download Daily8 app today from your preferred app store and start exploring.
app-storeplay-store