Atlantic's largest Great White Shark resurfaces near US coastline after months
Source: New York Post
A record-breaking Great White Shark named Contender is making headlines as it journeys along the US East Coast, surfacing near a popular vacation region. Measuring an astonishing 14 feet in length and weighing approximately 1,653 pounds, Contender is the largest Great White Shark ever tagged in the Atlantic Ocean.
According to the reports, the Great White Shark was first tracked in January 2025 by OCEARCH, a nonprofit research organisation dedicated to marine research. This massive predator was tagged off the Florida-Georgia coast, near Jacksonville.
According to the New York Post reports, after nearly a month without signal, the shark recently resurfaced off Pamlico Sound in North Carolina, sending waves of excitement through the scientific community and ocean enthusiasts alike.
Contender's movements mark a vital feeding stop during his seasonal migration northward, according to what the experts say.
14-foot Great White Shark
Contender reappears after vanishing
The Great White Shark nicknamed as Contender, is a 14-foot, 1,653-pound predator that was first tagged in January 2025 by OCEARCH, a leading nonprofit research organisation focused on large marine species. The shark was located roughly 45 miles off the Florida-Georgia coast, near Jacksonville.
by Taboola
by Taboola
Sponsored Links
Sponsored Links
Promoted Links
Promoted Links
You May Like
Buy Brass Idols - Handmade Brass Statues for Home & Gifting
Luxeartisanship
Buy Now
Undo
After disappearing from trackers for almost a month, Contender resurfaced northward off Pamlico Sound in North Carolina.
The absence was due to how its tracker functions; it only transmits location data when the dorsal fin breaks the surface of the water, making updates sporadic. Contender is estimated to be about 30 years old, placing it among the oldest documented Great White Sharks currently being monitored. According to Dr.
Harley Newton, OCEARCH's chief scientist and veterinarian based in Ponte Vedra, Florida, this movement aligns with known migratory behaviour.
North Carolina waters serve as key feeding stop for migrating great whites
This deviation to North Carolina's coastal waters is believed to be a crucial feeding period. Experts suggest that this region offers an abundance of food that allows sharks like Contender to build energy reserves in preparation for a northward journey that could span over 1,000 miles.
Dr. Newton added, 'We often observe tagged sharks lingering off the Outer Banks before continuing their migration. The availability of prey makes this area an important pre-departure refuelling site.
'
How OCEARCH tags and tracks sharks
The tagging process for Contender was extensive and carefully executed. Researchers captured the shark alongside their specialised research vessel, collected biological samples for further analysis, and fitted a SPOT (Smart Position or Temperature Transmitting) satellite tag to its dorsal fin.
This SPOT tag allows real-time GPS tracking when the shark surfaces. Both scientists and the public can follow its movements through OCEARCH's Global Shark Tracker, an open-access digital platform.
Role of sharks in
marine conservation
Data collected from Contender and other sharks play a vital role in marine conservation. By studying their migratory routes and behaviours, researchers can identify critical habitats that need protection. Great white sharks are apex predators and play an essential role in balancing marine ecosystems by regulating prey populations. However, they face growing threats from overfishing, habitat degradation, and the ongoing impacts of climate change.
Also Read |
US man finds snake giving 'saucy looks' from dashboard; Mazda's hilarious 'Try Beyoncé' reply goes viral
Hashtags
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
Time of India
an hour ago
- Time of India
NASA postpones launch to investigate space station leaks, delaying Axiom-4 mission for crew safety checks: Report
NASA Axiom 4 mission postponed : The launch of a private astronaut mission to the International Space Station (ISS) has been postponed by NASA as it continues to investigate the ongoing air leaks in collaboration with Roscosmos, the Russian Space Agency. The recent repairs to the Russian segment have shown some success, but a new pressure anomaly requires further assessment. NASA emphasised that the crew remains safe and station operations are normal. The delay affects Axiom Space's Ax-4 mission, which was set to transport four private astronauts via SpaceX. NASA and its partners are working to determine a new launch date while prioritising safety and structural integrity aboard the ISS. NASA and Roscosmos monitor ISS leaks, delay Axiom-4 mission NASA confirmed in a statement released on Thursday that Russian cosmonauts had recently sealed 'some areas of interest' within the Russian segment of the ISS. The sealed module is currently maintaining pressure, which indicates some success in containment efforts. However, NASA also noted the emergence of a 'new pressure signature' that is a possible indication of another leak requiring additional analysis. 'Crews need more time to evaluate the situation and determine whether any additional troubleshooting is necessary,' the agency stated. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like New Launch at Godrej Sector 12 | Luxurious 3 & 4 BHK Homes @₹2.91 Cr* Godrej Majesty Learn More Undo Source: X ISS crew remains safe and operational: NASA reassured Despite the technical concerns, NASA later reassured the public that the station and its crew remain safe. 'The crew aboard the International Space Station is safely conducting normal operations,' the agency confirmed in a second statement. The ISS, which has been in continuous operation for more than two decades, has encountered similar issues in the past. In 2023, NASA reported discovering four significant cracks in the Russian Zvezda module along with nearly 50 other areas deemed 'concerning.' This prompted NASA to classify the issue as a top-level safety risk. NASA restricts access to Russian module as leak risks grow In response to the ongoing leak issues, NASA and Roscosmos have agreed to restrict access to the affected Russian module. The hatch to this module is now only opened during critical operations. During such periods, NASA requires its astronauts to remain on the US side of the station to ensure they are close to their SpaceX Crew Dragon spacecraft in case of an emergency evacuation. A 2023 report from NASA's Office of Inspector General underscored the seriousness of the situation, noting that leak rates had reached record highs. Investigations have focused on weld points that may have deteriorated over time due to the aging structure of the space station. NASA has plans to continue operations aboard the ISS through 2030. After that, the agency hopes to transition its activities to commercially operated space stations being developed by companies like Axiom Space, Blue Origin, Sierra Nevada, Voyager Space, and Vast. However, with structural issues mounting and timelines for commercial stations uncertain, concerns remain over whether replacements will be ready before the ISS is decommissioned. Axiom space mission update There are currently seven crew members aboard the ISS: NASA astronauts Anne McClain, Nichole Ayers, and Jonny Kim; Russian cosmonauts Kirill Peskov, Sergey Ryzhikov, and Alexey Zubritsky; and JAXA astronaut Takuya Onishi. Source: X They were expected to be joined by four private astronauts on the Axiom Mission 4 (Ax-4), launched via a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon spacecraft. The mission, commissioned by Houston-based Axiom Space, was designed as a short-duration visit lasting approximately two weeks. In a post on X (formerly Twitter), Axiom's executive chairman Kam Ghaffarian wrote, 'We will continue to work with all of our partners to finalize a new launch date and look forward to flying the Ax-4 mission soon.' Also Read | James Webb Space Telescope reveals first exoplanet with 'sand rain' and a growing 'sandcastle' companion, redefining planetary evolution
Time of India
4 hours ago
- Time of India
India's second urbanisation: It's confirmed, Keeladi is as old as the Gangetic plains; radiocarbon dating traces site's origins to 580BCE
The Keeladi site in Madurai has revealed yet another chapter in Tamil Nadu 's past. Radiocarbon dating by US laboratory Beta Analytics has confirmed that it dates to 6th century BCE, making it contemporary with the urbanisation of the Gangetic plains. Of the 29 radiocarbon samples dated by the Tamil Nadu state department of archaeology since the 2017-18 excavation season, the earliest was from 580BCE and the most recent from 200CE. The findings point to an urban and industrial settlement that flourished for 800 years between 6th century BCE and 2nd century CE. The large brick structures from the Sangam Age found here are evidence of the urbanisation described in Sangam literature. 'Most samples above the brick structures date to after the 3rd century BCE, while those below go as far back as the 6th century BCE,' says archaeologist K Rajan, advisor to Tamil Nadu's archaeology department. 'This places Keeladi alongside the urbanisation of the Gangetic plains, India's second urbanisation. Of the 29 radiocarbon dates, 12 fall in the pre-Ashokan era, before the 3rd century BCE.' It also looks like the archaeologists are inching closer to revealing the face of the ancient Tamil, who lived in the Keeladi settlement thousands of years ago, using 3D technology and anthropometric measurements from a skull unearthed at the Kondagai burial site. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Keep Your Home Efficient with This Plug-In elecTrick - Save upto 80% on Power Bill Learn More Undo 'Based on the skull, we will reconstruct the age, dietary pattern, determine the gender, and actual face of the person,' says Rajan. The state archaeology department is collaborating with more than 20 research institutions from India and overseas on the project, including Liverpool University in the UK, University of Pisa in Italy, the Field Museum in Chicago, the French Institute of Pondicherry, IIT Gandhinagar, and Deccan College, to reconstruct life in Keeladi in 580 BCE. The Deccan College is analysing animal bones found in Keeladi. Excavations uncovered bones of bulls, buffaloes, goats, cows, sheep, dogs, pigs, antelope and spotted deer. Madurai Kamaraj University researchers are working on analysing ancient human DNA and animal DNA, which will help understand human migration and admixture of the ancient inhabitants of Keeladi and Kondagai, a cluster village of Keeladi. This scientific approach has yielded 29 dates from a single site. The Tamil-Brahmi inscribed potsherds unearthed at Keeladi have pushed the script's origin back to the 6th century BCE. Gold and ivory artefacts suggest the ancient Tamils led a life of luxury. 'It shows Keeladi was an urban settlement with a literate society and a community of artisans,' says R Sivanandam, joint director, state archaeology department. 'It was an industrial hub along an ancient trade route linking the east coast port of Alagankulam to Muziris on the west coast via Madurai.' The original name of the settlement, however, remains unknown. Sangam literature talks about overseas trade, ornaments, gemstones, cities and streets and palatial buildings. 'Keeladi has proved that Sangam literature was a lived experience of ancient Tamils and not imaginative stories,' says indologist R Balakrishnan. Archaeologists also found terracotta and ivory dice in rectangular and cubic forms at the site, which Balakrishnan says is mentioned in 'Kalithogai', sixth of the eight anthologies of Sangam literature. 'Keeladi isn't the only site with roots in the 6th century BCE. Kodumanal, Porunthal, Sivagalai, Adichanallur and Korkai have also yielded dates from that period,' says Rajan. 'Korkai has produced a date as early as 785BCE, suggesting Sangam-age urbanisation was widespread.' Despite 10 seasons of excavations at Keeladi, researchers have excavated only 4% of the 110 acres of cultural deposit in Keeladi. The state govt plans to continue excavations and has set up a museum to showcase the findings, with an onsite museum, the first of its kind in India, also in the works. 'Tamil Nadu has endured archaeological apathy for far too long until Keeladi sparked a wave of interest among Tamils,' says Balakrishnan. 'Keeladi is the first site that transformed the understanding of archaeology in Tamil Nadu,' says Rajan. KEELADI CONTROVERSY Archaeologist K Amarnath Ramakrishna, who led the first two excavation seasons (2014-2016), submitted a report in 2023 to ASI stating that Keeladi functioned between 8th century BCE and 3rd century CE. Two years later, ASI challenged the dating, claiming the site could best be dated to 300 BCE and asked Ramakrishna to revise his report. Ramakrishna defended his original findings. Two days ago, Union minister for culture and tourism Gajendran Singh Shekhawat also stated that the report was not technically well supported and further scientific validation is needed WHY IS KEELADI IMPORTANT? Contains brick structural remains from the Sangam Age (early historic period) Among the few sites in Tamil Nadu, along with Arikamedu, Kaveripattinam and Korkai, to yield a wide variety of structures such as complex brick structures, drainage systems with tank-like features, doublewalled furnaces, terracotta ring wells HOW RADIOCARBON DATING WORKS Living organisms absorb carbon, including the radioactive isotope C-14, from the atmosphere. When they die, C-14 intake stops and the organism begins to decay at a known rate. Measuring the remaining C-14 helps estimate the time of death of the organism. A common technique used is accelerator mass spectrometry, which directly counts C-14 atoms, requires just 1g of sample and has dating accuracy within ±30 years KEELADI FINDS Excavated area is 90m long and 60m wide. Artefacts include glass, shell, ivory, pearl and terracotta beads; seals; dice, unidentified copper coins; gold ornaments Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
Time of India
9 hours ago
- Time of India
Pain reliever may help in IUI fertility treatment: KGMU study
1 2 3 Lucknow: A recent study conducted at King George's Medical University (KGMU) found that piroxicam, a commonly used pain reliever, may improve the effectiveness of intrauterine insemination (IUI), a low-cost and minimally invasive fertility treatment. The study, published in the journal 'Obstetrics and Gynaecology' in May, was led by Prof Anjoo Agrawal, head of the obstetrics and gynaecology department at KGMU. "IUI is among the most accessible fertility treatments available, particularly for couples with unexplained infertility," said Prof Agrawal. "Our goal was to explore whether adding a widely available medication could improve outcomes." The clinical trial enrolled 186 women diagnosed with unexplained infertility, all of whom were eligible for IUI and had no history of gastrointestinal conditions or known allergies to piroxicam. Participants were randomly assigned to two groups. In the intervention group, 94 women received a 10 mg dose of piroxicam daily on the 4th, 5th and 6th day following IUI, along with standard hormone (progesterone) support. The control group, consisting of 92 women, received only progesterone support. The study found that 9% of participants in the piroxicam group became pregnant (eight pregnancies), with seven continuing beyond 20 weeks. by Taboola by Taboola Sponsored Links Sponsored Links Promoted Links Promoted Links You May Like Free Solitaire. No Ads Ever. Play Solitaire Download Undo In comparison, 2.2% of participants in the control group conceived (two pregnancies), both of which progressed past 20 weeks. The difference was statistically significant, suggesting a potential benefit of piroxicam in improving IUI outcomes. Prof Agrawal said the medication may aid in reducing uterine contractions post-insemination, potentially improving the chances of embryo implantation. The research was conducted under ethical oversight and registered with the Clinical Trials Registry of India (CTRI). The authors noted the importance of further multi-centre trials to confirm the findings across diverse populations. "If further studies support these results, piroxicam may be integrated into standard fertility treatment protocols, particularly in settings with limited resources," said Prof Agrawal. The research team also included Dr Sadhna Singh, Dr Renu Singh, Dr Mona Asnani, Dr Smriti Agrawal and Dr Namrata Kumar. Follow more information on Air India plane crash in Ahmedabad here . Get real-time live updates on rescue operations and check full list of passengers onboard AI 171 .
