Port and Starboard

Researchers studying orcas off the coast of South Africa recently observed one of the whales consuming a great white shark alone, in just two minutes.Forget Collars—There's a Kinder Way to Track Polar Bears in the ArcticSince 2017, two orcas in particular have been wreaking havoc on the great whites off South Africa’s Mossel Bay. Dubbed Port and Starboard (cute!), the apex predators have developed a taste for the massive sharks’ nutrient-rich livers (less cute). Haunting video of the whales actively feeding on a great…

Our most-read science stories this week contain a few timeless life lessons. One, don’t go into an MRI room carrying metal, particularly if that metal is a loaded gun. Two, don’t cross a killer whale, even if you’re a great white shark. And finally, never judge a sea cucumber by its cover—no matter how repulsive that cover appears to be. - Rose PastoreZillow Says You’ll Buy Your Next House With… AI? | AI UnlockedWoman Enters MRI Machine With a Gun, Gets Shot in ButtImage: nimon (Shutterstock)A woman’s medical exam turned…

A great white shark carcass that washed up near Portland, Australia, in October was killed and eaten by orcas, according to researchers who studied the fish’s remains.“Even AI Rappers are Harassed by Police” | AI UnlockedThe 16-foot shark was missing its midriff—a telltale sign that orcas were involved in its demise. But recent analysis of the carcass confirmed that orcas, also known as killer whales, were the culprits.Great white sharks (Carcharadon carcharias) are some of the most fearsome predators in the world’s…

New strategies to save boats from the orca uprising are in the works. Portuguese officials plan to test devices that could deter so-called killer whales from taking down ships with sound, according to a report from Lusa News Agency, Portugal’s largest news outlet. Trial runs of the tech could begin over the next few months or even sooner.Forget Collars—There's a Kinder Way to Track Polar Bears in the Arctic“Some lines of development of acoustic deterrents are being developed that will be tested this summer, in order to…

Towner with a great white shark carcass.Photo: Hennie Otto / Dyer Island Conservation TrustTwo orcas named Port and Starboard seem to have developed a taste for great white sharks. Since 2017, eight great white sharks have washed ashore in South Africa, with signs of having been attacked by orcas. Seven of the sharks—typically apex predators—were missing their livers, and some didn’t have their hearts anymore.The sharks’ wounds, as well as recorded sightings of the two orcas, indicated to a team of researchers that Port…