Comments on: Episode 102: Shark Week Special 2

By: Triune

Triune — Mon, 21 May 2012 01:14:36 +0000

Here’s another one most people missed: The last myth was based on a movie where the shark had been genetically altered to have human-level, or even above human, intelligence. It did very little throughout the movie that matched what a real shark of its species did, and often acted in ways that showed a high level of planning and intelligence.

In other words, they tested a shark myth that is about a kind of shark which literally does not exist. The entire test fails simply because of that.

By: Randomdiver

Randomdiver — Wed, 07 Dec 2011 00:14:08 +0000

It seems everyone has missed one vital point here,i havent seen anyone mention it and it wasnt mentioned on the show (being repeated now on tv).
Every fisherman knows (or should)when a fishes bite time is, when it’s at as its most active feeding and when its not.At these bite times i have seen even freshwater perch for e.g in a baitball type frenzy eating anything in site so i know the moon,tides etc all affect a fishes activity.
Some of those tests might or might not have been done during these times which would def make a big difference in sharks activity as they do in any fishes activity.
Just an observation.

By: MSpears

MSpears — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:56:17 +0000

*snickers* I can almost form a mental picture of a shark biting a human, making a funny face, and saying “YUCK! Human!”

By: MSpears

MSpears — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:55:07 +0000

Maybe. It’s better to try to poke it in the eye, though. For one thing, it’s a more vulnerable (and more sensitive) target…

By: MSpears

MSpears — Thu, 25 Aug 2011 14:53:52 +0000

He never said that sharks are blind. He said it’s a MYTH that sharks are blind. (Which it is.)

By: felixnoir

felixnoir — Sat, 14 May 2011 22:44:37 +0000

There was a recent report in the ‘West Australian’ newspaper about a swimmer who was mauled by a shark but escaped by eye gouging. I’ve seen other reports of people who have escaped shark attacks by attacking the shark. With ref to movement: I’ve seen an article somewhere that said sharks see some movement as ‘distressed’ and other movement as ‘aggressive’, which affects whether they will attack. The reason is other cues – scent, but apparently also subtle differences in the vibration of the water, which sharks are very sensitive to. This seems to me to make sense, because the ability to distinguish different reasons for violent movement would be an important evolutionary survival trait.
With ref to what Sweetwater said: Tigers that eat humans apparently only do so because they are too old to catch harder prey. The reason is, humans taste awful. The taste of tobacco in human flesh is one thing that apparently really puts animals off.

By: art

art — Fri, 17 Dec 2010 07:39:03 +0000

I would question the definition of “food”. I think the kind of chum used would stimulate the fish to the point that they would ignore anything short of physical restraint to get at the food. Sort of like the bull taking a run at the electric fence, it only hurts briefly and then you’re free. But it does seem to have potential for limiting shark movement under less dramatic circumstances. I believe some Australians are presently exploiting the magnet effect.

By: Rob Australia

Rob Australia — Mon, 06 Dec 2010 10:36:40 +0000

Having just watched this i can see a major ‘flaw’ in their magnet test.

First off if you watch the test, the ‘standard’ normal iron feris magnet on the pup had it pull away.. the Neodynium it had a go at the paper between.

Then go to the test in the pen.. they used standard feris magnets.. and the pup wouldn’t cross them however rather then use those SAME magnets on the sea test.. instead they used the Neodynimum maginets again.

I say go back and do tests with BOTH sets all along.

By: ekm

ekm — Sat, 28 Aug 2010 06:18:34 +0000

mythbuster says playing dead will save your life and survivorman says swimming will save your life. i live on the gulf and am surrounded by sharks, so which is true or does anyone even know?

By: Max

Max — Thu, 05 Aug 2010 17:08:34 +0000

The iTunes version and recent airings of this episode cut out flapping fish, salsa shark repellant, and flashlight shark repellant. Secondly, it’s only an hour long.