Shark Tales

Latest Episodes:

Asexual Sharks: How Shark Moms Take Charge Dec 01, 2021

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It usually takes two to tango in the world of shark reproduction, but in rare cases, a baby shark can be born when there are no males around. We dive into the weird and mysterious world of asexual shark reproduction with a scientist who can explain a phenomenon that might seem impossible.

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'Shark Attack' or 'Negative Encounter'? Words Matter Sep 17, 2021

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Many shark scientists are pushing to change the language used to describe interactions between humans and sharks, but some survivors are wary. We talk to an Australian shark biologist who is pushing for the change and two survivors who are skeptical of the effort.

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If Sharks Went Extinct, Here’s How the Ocean Would Fall Apart Aug 26, 2021

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Sharks populations are rapidly declining and many species are in danger of extinction. We talked to shark researcher Apryl Boyle about why that would be devastating to all life, both underwater and on land.

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The Secret Sex Lives of Sharks Aug 16, 2021

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Scientists have conducted countless studies on shark species around the world, but know very little about what happens when they mate. We talk to senior shark scientist Nick Whitney about his research into the mysterious mating rituals of nurse sharks.

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What Scientists Learned From Watching All of Shark Week Aug 04, 2021

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A group of shark scientists watched hundreds of hours of Shark Week programming and didn’t like what they saw. They told us their data shows that Discovery’s annual cash cow has a diversity problem, and often sends the wrong message about sharks.

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Shark Fishing: Does the Sport Need to Be Reeled in? Jul 26, 2021

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Fishermen and scientists can be at odds as researchers call for uncomfortable changes for both recreational and for-profit fishing. Jeff Kneebone has a foot in both worlds and wants to bring them together through research and understanding.

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The Megalodon: The Extinct Shark That Keeps Making a Comeback Jul 13, 2021

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There’s a shark the size of a house with teeth the size of your hand, but luckily for you they have been dead for millions of years. The megalodon was an impressive species of shark, but is there a chance that they still exist today? Not at all, but we are looking into why people are convinced that is the case.

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Bringing More Black Women Into Shark Science Nov 09, 2020

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A group of Black women working in shark science are trying to bring needed diversity to their field with their new organization, Minorities in Shark Science. MISS president Jasmin Graham told us that finding other shark researchers like her was shocking — “What, another Black woman in shark science? That’s wild!" — and what the group is doing to bring diversity to marine science.

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Hunting Down Shark Brains — for Science! Oct 14, 2020

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Kara Yopak heads the Yopak Zombie Lab at the University of North Carolina Wilmington, where she studies what all zombies love: brains. She has a collection of shark brains that she believes holds the key to predicting shark behavior — just don’t ask her if sharks are smart.

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How Canadians See Sharks Differently Than We Do Oct 01, 2020

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And white sharks seem to behave differently in Canada’s waters than elsewhere, too, according to Heather Bowlby, lead researcher at the Canadian Atlantic Shark Research Laboratory at Fisheries and Oceans Canada. She took time from her research to tell us about what Canada thinks of great white sharks and what the sharks think of Canada.

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