On October 16th, a U.S Coast Guard aircraft spotted a grouping of over 20 Pacific great white sharks just off the coast of San Francisco, CA. These big beasties, measuring between 15-20 feet, were hanging out between Ocean Beach and the Pacifica Pier, about 100 yards offshore. Lt. Beau Belanger, one of the heliocopter pilots who witnessed the unique event, was "amazed." Not only was it unusual for the sharks to be so close to such a populated area, but by this time of the year these larger sharks have typically headed for Año Nuevo or Drake's Bay. It's common to see smaller, juvenile sharks this close to the coast, but generally the more mature, larger sharks have retreated for deeper waters by this time of year. The Bay Area had an incredibly hot, late, summer due to El Niño, which raised water temperatures and likely kept the mature great…

This Halloween, take a plunge into the briny deep for your costume inspiration. No matter if you're trick-or-treating, heading to house parties, or putting together an office-appropriate ensemble, the ocean's most terrifying creature is sure to deliver thrills and chills to the gills. If you're feeling crafty, gather a simple grey hoodie, some white felt, googly eyes, fabric glue and red fabric paint. Using your sharpest scissor, trim the felt into one-inch triangles. Glue them around the opening of the hood as teeth and dot with red paint for after-meal-appeal. Glue the googly eyes on either side of the hood, just above ear level. Let dry overnight and finis! Pair over dark jeans or a skirt for a functional, warm costume. Want something a little more elegant? Scour thrift stores and second hand shops for a grey or silver gown. Add opera length gloves in a matching color as your…

The documentary team of Discovery Australia learned more than they bargained for during the filming of Shark Week program, Bride of Jaws. The feature focused on the search for a 16-foot, 3,000 pound Great White shark known as “Joan of Shark.” While they weren’t able to attract their target, they did lure two other Great Whites with an innovative new approach—blasting death metal music through underwater speakers.  Typically, chum—a mix of fish blood and entrails—is used to attract the large fish. But as it turns out, the grinding, low-frequency tones popular in the death metal genre mimic the sounds of thrashing prey, such as seals or other fish. Sharks have remarkably sensitive ears, and their sense of hearing is the first tip-off that their next meal is nearby. Their inner ears are made up of three sensory areas, allowing them to detect prey from distances as far as 800 feet.…