NEWS: Magnets: Nature's Shark Repellant?

GEEK: Magnets: Nature's Shark Repellant?

Hey, did somebody say SHARK WEEK?

I know, I know: the article I am linking to is a couple of months old. But for goodness' sake, it's shark week and this is interesting enough by far to justify any unfortunate delay; besides, can you ever really get enough news stories about sharks? I mean, really? That's what I thought.

So, here's the thing: sharks are repelled by magnets. I know, what the hell, right? At first I thought this was going to involve some kind of massive cartoon magnet and a fearsome iron robot shark with red laser eyes of death, but we're actually talking about real live natural sharks here, not to mention natural magnets. As was recently discovered by Eric Stroud and Michael Herrmann, co-creators of the aptly-named shark repellant research company SharkDefense, they can chomp through all the boats and harpoons they want, but when it comes to magnets, sharks can't even step.

So Stroud and Herrmann took their investigations to the Bimini Biological Research Station in the Bahamas, because, from a logical standpoint, who wouldn't want to conduct research in the Bahamas? What they found out was that sharks are vehemently opposed to rare-earth mineral magnets. Not only do the magnets make the sharks shoot to the opposite side of the pool like an unsociable party guest, but they can also rouse the sharks from states of tonic immobility. (It would seem that sharks, like turtles and pillbugs, become immobile when you turn them upside-down. This is, to me, some fascinating new terminology: I'd always attributed any immobility I've encountered to date much more to the gin than the tonic. *rimshot*)

This phenomenon is reportedly being attributed to the magnets' overloading the sharks' sensory systems, and it's pretty powerful stuff. That said, what the gentlemen behind this discovery want to warn you of is that strapping a ton of magnets to your head the next time you go diving probably isn't going to save you from becoming a ravenous shark's chum bucket.

Natch. Rather than using magnets to repelling sharks from yourself personally (you selfish shark-haters), the SharkDefense team hopes to use this new technology to build more humane underwater fences and smarter fishing nets: in essence, protecting the sharks from their biggest enemies -- us.

In parting, here's a video of a shark thrashing out of upside-down sleep at the sense of a magnet (I'd say "at the sight of...," but the magnet's behind a barrier, so the shark doesn't even know what hit it.)



Fascinating! Happy shark week, everyone!


_DictionaryGirl_ would like to go on the record stating that she cannot be accused of biting off TheCoolerKing's style, because she totally started drafting this yesterday.

I'd like to take a sharp stick and ram it into one of the guys in that last video and document their reaction.

So shark turn-offs include magnets and rude people. . .

Science is cool.

Fuck the magnets; what I want is some sort of robot shark-flipper-upside-downer.

This is actually perfect for diving. Most people need at least 15 pounds to get neutral

If I had 10-20 pounds of magnets I would never be bored. Makes me want to go to Sea World. Seriously though, really interesting article.

You just need to learn shark judo.

They need a magnet ray gun so they can blast those snappy mofos!

Actually, flipping thru & seeing a sort of "Mythbusters" for sharks, they had a hammerhead shark dig right into a piece of chum placed directly over a magnet. Didn't phase the damn critter in the least. So that magnet theory ain't all "thumbs up"...

i've been watching some of shark week. i keep seeing these scientists flipping the little ones. i say research isn't complete till we get a great white on its back

I strap that much onto me of lead weights when i go diving. I don't sink.
seems like weights that keep the sharks away would be much more useful.

awesome.

protesting mild discomfort in the interest of science is fun.

This is why I love the amount of smarties on this site: having never been diving before, I wouldn't have known this. I feel schooled.

Did they say what kind of magnet? Also, clearly this is because it was a hammerhead shark, a species which everyone knows is part robot and entirely unstoppable.

I was ready to go surfing! But then...

Rats, I guess I'll just have to deal with the risk.

I love Shark Week, and I love you D-Girl. Nice article...

That's really fascinating stuff...but...
Does anyone know why the magnets are so repellent? That's the coolest part to me. What kind of magnet-sense do those sharks have that makes them jolt like that? It must be pretty sensitive ....
Much respect to anyone who can answer that.

Well, they do have sensors just above their noses that sense electromagnetic fields. My guess is that it overloads those.
Maybe it's the equivalent of an incredibly bright light or loud sound, something that would get us to turn away to avoid permanent damage.

Oh yes....although how do we know it is mild discomfort? That is why a sharp stick to the ribs of a scientist is better....big pain is more fun!

great article... but this is my favorite part.

Not at all - besides, I only saw it last night, so it's all good!

Not really. The hammerheads were in a tank surrounded by a very much weaker magnetic field (only ten turns of copper wire). They actually went nuts when the magnetic field was turned on. They had just been trained to go into a square for food when it happened. Or were those something besides hammerheads?

Unless you meant the very small electric field that made them dig in a particular spot. 'Cause those were definitely hammerheads.