UK researchers say sharks could warn of storms

Forget Jaws. Sharks can save lives too by giving early warning of storms. Researchers in Britain have carried out...

Forget Jaws. Sharks can save lives too by giving early warning of storms. Researchers in Britain have carried out a study and found that the fearsome predators can sense minute changes in air pressure—a sign of imminent bad weather—and head for the safety of deeper waters when a storm is brewing.

“The shark’s inner ear is very similar to ours; if we go up in an aeroplane our ears pop due to the equalisation of pressures and the same thing goes on with a shark. There is a nerve which runs from the inner ear straight to the brain and relays pressure change information. They react to that. It’s an early warning system,” The Daily Telegraph quoted lead researcher Lauren Smith as saying.

Smith and her colleagues at Aberdeen University came to the conclusion after analysing lemon sharks in the Bahamas, using acoustic tags and GPS method to track their movements.

Story continues below this ad

Subsequently, the researchers recreated the weather conditions at the National Hyperbaric Centre in Aberdeen to prove their theory with the help of lesser spotted dogfish, a relation of the lemon shark.

Sharks’ sensitivity to atmospheric conditions was first noticed in 2001 when the approach of Hurricane Gabrielle in Florida led to juvenile blacktip sharks fleeing from the shallow shoreline.

“We see sharks as dangerous animals. Because of the fear factor we don’t really know what occurs within the animals. But they’ve been around for 400 million years so they are doing something right. They have to be attuned to their environment,” Smith was quoted as saying.

H-1B $100,000 entry fee explained: Who pays, who’s exempt, and what’s still unclear?

Explained2 hr ago

The White House's decision to impose a $100,000 entry fee on H-1B visa holders has sparked worry among Indian tech workers and students. While uncertainties remain about its implementation and exemptions, major tech companies have cautioned employees against traveling. The policy could lead to a shift towards other visa categories and potentially change the STEM immigration pipeline.

View all shorts

Live Blog