Fish, features and articles | Educational Science

Dec 31, 2003

Fish Eyes Adjust Shutter Speed to Track Prey

Although most fish are cold-blooded, swordfish, tuna, and some species of sharks are able to elevate the temperature in parts of their bodies. Swordfish in particular have been found to keep their eyes 18-27 degrees Fahrenheit (10-15 Celsius) above the surrounding water temperature. Recent research suggests that depending on how...

Nov 30, 2005

Human Gene Changes Color of Fish

Scientists have changed mutated, golden-colored zebrafish to a standard dark-striped, yellowish-white variety by inserting the genetic information for normal pigmentation into young fish. In an interesting twist, they also found that inserting a similar human version of the pigment gene resulted in the same color change. As with humans, zebrafish...

Jun 30, 2005

Deadly New Sea Creature Lures Fish with Red Lights

For fish, the red light district is deeper and more dangerous than anyone imagined. A newfound deep-sea relative of the jellyfish flashes glowing red lights on twitching, stinging tentacles to lure fish to their deaths more than a mile below the surface. The discovery is odd, because scientists had figured...

Jun 30, 2005

Fake Shark Skin Could Make Navy Fleet Faster

Few creatures spawn more fear than sharks. But these complex fish also have provided inspiration for several useful technologies. One new idea has captured the interest of the U.S. Navy. Shark skin has been used by many cultures as sandpaper. It's kept shipmates safe in slippery-when-wet conditions. Swimsuits modeled on...

Apr 30, 2005

Free Now, Killer Aquarium Shark Travels 200 Miles

A shark-killing shark recently released into the ocean is on the move and will soon have its complete travel tale told, researchers said today. The great white shark was released from the Monterey Bay Aquarium on March 31 after killing two sharks at the facility. An electronic tag attached to...

Mar 31, 2005

Great White Sharks Tagged off New Zealand

For the first time, great white sharks in New Zealand waters have been outfitted with satellite tags, researchers said today. The devices will help scientists learn where and how deep the creatures go. Four sharks were tagged in the project with devices that collect detailed information about the depth, temperature,...

Mar 31, 2005

Are Great Whites Descended from Mega-Sharks?

Millions of years ago the oceans were ruled by a bus-sized, whale-eating shark with teeth as big as your hand. Scientists have long believed that the prehistoric megalodon shark evolved into today's scariest sea predator, the great white. However, a new study comparing teeth suggests that the great white is...

Feb 28, 2005

Killer Aquarium Shark Released Back to the Ocean

A killer great white shark was released back into the wild Thursday -- under supervision. Scientists have fitted the shark with an electronic data tag to monitor her movements for the next month or longer. The shark was accidentally caught by a halibut fisherman last September and was brought to...

Nov 30, 2006

Talking Fish: Wide Variety of Sounds Discovered

Increasingly scientists are discovering unusual mechanisms by which fish make and hear secret whispers, grunts and thumps to attract mates and ward off the enemy. In just one bizarre instance, seahorses create clicks by tossing their heads. They snap the rear edge of their skulls against their star-shaped bony crests....

Oct 31, 2006

Radioactive Fish Give Off Bad Vibes

Fish exposed to dangerous radiation send out chemical signals to alert their pals so they can then turn up their defenses, scientists in Canada report. These results might help regulators identify radiation leaks from nuclear power plants. Since 1921, scientists have known that cells and animals exposed to radiation emit...

Aug 31, 2006

Some Fish Sniff Out Their Siblings

In the fish world, traditional roles are typically reversed with the male building the nest, completing nest-keeping tasks, and protecting and caring for the young. Since female fish lay their eggs in an already-built nest before swimming away, the hard work ensures a male fish will pass along his genes....

Aug 31, 2006

Shark Slaughter: 73 Million Killed Each Year

The world's booming shark fin trade is killing up to 73 million sharks per year—about three times more than the official catch number reported to the United Nations, a new study concludes. The findings, derived using data collected from illegal shark fin traders, are detailed in the October issue of...

Mar 31, 2006

Catfish Hunt on Land

You might think a catfish on land would fare as well as an elephant on roller-skates, but a new study reveals they slither around and adeptly catch insect meals [Video]. The finding helps scientists imagine how ancient fish made their first hunting trips ashore prior to evolving into land creatures....

Oct 31, 2007

Image Gallery: Great White Sharks

Open Wide (Image credit: © Klaus Jost, www.jostimages.com Used with permission.)An intriguing (and terrifying) look inside the mouth of the great white shark. Catch of the Day (Image credit: © Klaus Jost, www.jostimages.com Used with permission.)Great white shark jumps well above the ocean waters to catch this fish. Just Below...

Apr 30, 2007

Virgin Shark Gives Birth

Female sharks may not need males around anymore, because they can reproduce without having sex, surprised scientists have found. The startling discovery, announced today, has a long history. It was initially made after the unexpected birth of a baby hammerhead shark in the aquarium of Nebraska’s Henry Doorly Zoo in...