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National Geographic

THE COMPASS

This week, we dive beneath the waves into the often misunderstood world of sharks. Discover the deep-sea shark that is one of the world’s largest glowing animals, learn about the origins of America's fear of sharks, and see how one photographer aims to turn shark fear into fascination.

The bioluminescent blackbelly lanternshark, as seen from a view beneath the animal.

PHOTOGRAPH BY JÉRÔME MALLEFET

This deep-sea shark is one of the world’s largest glowing animals

A new study has found that three species of deep-sea shark, including the six-foot-long kitefin shark, are bioluminescent.

GLOW-IN-THE-DARK SHARK

The July 15, 1916 Philadelphia Inquirer. The capture of a shark in New Jersey ended two weeks of panic over a string of attacks, and it changed how many United States residents thought about the predators.

PHOTOGRAPH COURTESY LIBRARY OF CONGRESS

2 weeks, 4 deaths, and the start of America's fear of sharks

It took a string of shark attacks in New Jersey more than a hundred years ago to make U.S. swimmers fear the ocean’s top predator.

A CENTURY OF FEAR

$Today's open-ocean sharks, such as this pelagic thresher shark in the waters off the Philippines, represent a fraction of the open-ocean sharks that lived until a mysterious extinction event 19 million years ago.$

PHOTOGRAPH BY BEARA CREATIVEM, ALAMY STOCK PHOTO

Mystery event caused shark populations to crash 19 million years ago

Fossil records show that roughly 90 percent of the planet's open-ocean sharks inexplicably vanished.

NATURE'S GREATEST SURVIVORS

ONE UNLUCKY MAN WAS BITTEN BY A SHARK, BEAR, AND SNAKE. WHAT DO YOU THINK THE ODDS ARE OF THIS OCCURRING?

A. 1 IN A MILLION
B. 1 IN 385 BILLION
C. 1 IN 893 QUADRILLION

CLICK TO SEE IF YOU'RE RIGHT!

Blacktip sharks circle in the depths of South Africa’s Aliwal Shoal.

PHOTOGRAPH BY THOMAS P. PESCHAK

Scared of sharks? This photographer aims to turn shark fear into fascination

A lifelong passion for these ocean predators sparked a career in conservation photography and a mission to share the love.

SHARING A PASSION

GOOD READS

1.

Great white sharks may change their color to sneak up on prey

2.

How drones are revolutionizing our understanding of sharks

3.

These sharks glow underwater—thanks to tiny ‘lightsabers’

4.

Megalodon is definitely extinct—and great white sharks may be to blame

Children eyeball jaws from several types of sharks on display at Monaco’s Musée Oceanographique.

PHOTOGRAPHS BY REBECCA MARSHALL, LAIF / REDUX

Here’s what kids can learn from sharks

Shark tourism could help raise awareness about these misunderstood fish. But can your family do it safely and sustainably?

THE "AHA" MOMENT

WHERE WILL WE JOURNEY TO NEXT?

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