Prevent shark attacks by using lights, suggest scientists.

Australian researchers have made a fascinating discovery that could potentially help reduce the risk of shark attacks. It may sound strange, but their solution involves swimmers lighting themselves up like Christmas trees. The team from Macquarie University, La Trobe University, The University of Western Australia, and Flinders University looked to the natural world for inspiration, specifically the ability of some marine animals to emit phosphorescent light from their undersides.

Their focus was on great white sharks, notorious predators that hunt their prey from below by looking for a dark silhouette against the lighter surface above. Unfortunately, this can sometimes lead to humans being mistaken for a tasty meal. To test their theory, the researchers attached LED lights to decoy seals and towed them behind a boat, mimicking the appearance of a swimmer in the water.

Their results were promising - the sharks were much less likely to attack the decoys with lights than those without. In fact, the brighter the lights, the lower the risk of attack overall. The researchers explained that this is because the lights create a disruptive camouflage, making it harder for the sharks to distinguish their prey from the background. They published their findings in the journal Current Biology.

This discovery could lead to the development of new non-invasive shark deterrent technology, which could help protect human life in areas where shark attacks are common. According to the Australian Shark Incident Database, the majority of shark bites in Australia are from great whites, bull sharks, tiger sharks, and other whaler sharks. In 2023 alone, there were four fatal shark attacks in Australian waters.

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