Search Results for: Sharks

Paleontology

Newborn megalodon sharks were larger than most adult humans

Preserved pieces of backbone suggest that megalodon sharks were about 2 meters long at birth.

Animals

Why do sea turtles, penguins and sharks sometimes just swim in circles or spirals?

Tracking devices recorded the loops and spirals of 10 marine species. In some cases, scientists have good guesses for why; other times it’s baffling.

Animals

Male elephant seals aim to get huge or die trying

Males will risk death to eat and grow as large as possible, since only the biggest males mate. But females aim for long-term survival.

Animals

Gory footage confirms orca pods can kill adult blue whales

For the first time, three recorded events show that orcas do hunt and eat blue whales using coordinated attacks that have worked on other large whales.

Paleontology

This ancient sea reptile had a slicing bite like no other

Right up until 66 million years ago, the sea was a teeming evolutionary laboratory with a small, agile, razor-toothed mosasaur patrolling the waters.

Paleontology

Cannibalism in the womb may have helped megalodon sharks become giants

The ancient sea terror Otodus megalodon may have grown to at least 14 meters long thanks to a firstborn pup’s predatory behavior, some researchers say.

Science & Society

We’re celebrating a century of Science News

Across a century of science journalism, Science News has covered the Scopes trial, the moonwalk, Dolly the Sheep and more.

Animals

Cold War nuclear test residue offers a clue to whale sharks’ ages

One unexpected legacy of the Cold War: Chemical traces of atomic bomb tests are helping scientists figure out whale shark ages.

Animals

Dolphins can learn from peers how to use shells as tools

While most foraging skills are picked up from mom, some bottlenose dolphins seem to look to their peers to learn how to trap prey in shells.

Life

Ocean acidification could degrade sharks’ tough skin

Nine weeks of exposure to acidic seawater corroded the toothlike denticles that make up a puffadder shyshark’s skin, a small experiment found.

Health & Medicine

Here’s what we know about the risks of serious side effects from COVID-19 vaccines

Allergic reactions, blood clots and possibly heart problems are rare and their risks don’t outweigh the benefits of getting vaccinated, experts say.

Paleontology

Saber-toothed anchovy relatives hunted in the sea 50 million years ago

Unlike today’s plankton-eating anchovies with tiny teeth, ancient anchovy kin had lower jaw of sharp spikes paired with a single giant sabertooth.