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Boston Globe
42 minutes ago
- Entertainment
- Boston Globe
The other ‘Jaws effect': A wave of shark science and conservation
Write to us at . To subscribe, . TODAY'S STARTING POINT 'Jaws,' the iconic 1975 thriller about a giant great white shark that terrorizes a small New England island town, still gets a lot of praise. It made director Steven Spielberg's career, left behind a two-note theme synonymous with dread, and effectively invented the summer blockbuster. The novel that inspired it, by Peter Benchley, But 50 years on, the book and film have also been chum for critics. Shark-fishing tournaments Yet that definition of the Jaws effect is at best incomplete. The novel and the film also led to a surge of shark science and conservation efforts that have begun to protect the animals from both ignorance and overfishing. Advertisement Fear and fascination That a movie about a killer shark catalyzed legions of scientists to study the animals suggests a strange truth about human psychology: things that scare us can also become objects of deep allure. John Mandelman, a scientist at the New England Aquarium, is living proof. He had a 'Jaws'-themed cake at one early birthday and was 7 or 8 when he first saw the movie. 'I remember being scared by the scenes that were more grotesque,' he said. 'But I also remember being really mesmerized.' Advertisement Mandelman's obsession wasn't just the shark; it was that the shark had transfixed every other character in the film, whether out of scientific fascination or atavistic fear. 'That really sucked me in.' He eventually realized that interest could become his career. He's now the chief scientist of the aquarium's Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life and calls 'Jaws' a 'gateway drug' for colleagues who also followed it into marine biology or ocean conservation. 'Sometimes people look at fear and fascination as distinct,' he said. 'I think in this case they're incredibly related.' The movie, which airs regularly and birthed a series of less-beloved sequels, has stayed current enough to inspire Mandelman's younger colleagues, too. So have more recent depictions of sharks in popular culture, like Netflix documentaries, viral videos, and Discovery's annual 'Shark Week,' Others have had similar experiences. 'After 'Jaws,' Peter received hundreds, really thousands of letters from people from around the world saying that they were terrified of the movie, but what it did was it really fascinated them,' said Wendy Benchley, Peter's widow (he died in 2006). 'Yeah, it scared people. But boy did it really keep sharks on people's minds, including scientists'.' True, both novel and film took liberties. Real-life sharks don't single-mindedly and repeatedly choose to attack people. Peter Benchley later expressed regret for casting his novel's antagonist as a rogue man-eater. (He doesn't deserve all the blame; highly publicized attacks in the early 20th century Advertisement Mandelman can overlook those inaccuracies because scientists now know much more about sharks than they did before 'Jaws.' Back then, the Navy From understanding to conservation For the public, however, knowing more about sharks didn't immediately mean trying to protect them. In 2000, Peter Benchley Both Benchleys had long cared about the ocean. Peter encountered sharks while fishing with his dad off Nantucket; Wendy spent summers in seaside Stonington, Conn. After 'Jaws,' they witnessed garbage-filled seas and shark overfishing firsthand. 'It jumpstarted our interest to really work hard on ocean conservation,' Wendy said. Half a century later, those efforts show signs of paying off. Federally protected since 1997, white shark populations Threats remain, including overfishing and climate change, which is warming New England's waters, straining the sharks' habitats, and drawing them closer to land ( Advertisement Still, Wendy is hopeful that 'Jaws' will continue to inspire efforts to restore shark populations and learn more about them. 'I know it makes it harder for people to swim,' she said. 'But it's definitely making a healthier ocean.' 🧩 3 Down: 97° POINTS OF INTEREST A Waymo vehicle on Merchants Row in Boston this month. Craig F. Walker/Globe Staff 'Utterly terrifying': A Vermont school superintendent, who is a US citizen, said federal agents WBZ shrinks: The Boston TV station Self-driving cars: Boston City councilors want to Gotta sell 'em all: A New Bedford man faces charges after he allegedly tried to Greenlit: The Trump administration approved Paramount's merger with a Hollywood studio after Paramount, which owns CBS, settled Trump's lawsuit against '60 Minutes' and canceled Stephen Colbert's show, which often criticizes Trump. ( Sanctuary cities: The Trump administration sued New York over policies that restrict city officials from cooperating with federal immigration agents. ( Other Epstein news: Much of the country wants Trump to reveal more about Epstein; in Roswell, residents want him to Advertisement Hulk Hogan: The wrestling star, actor, and reality TV host who endorsed Trump last year died at 71. ( Israel-Hamas war: Israel and the US recalled their peace negotiators, accusing Hamas of being unwilling to reach a cease-fire. ( Ukraine: President Volodymyr Zelensky pledged to protect government agencies that fight corruption, reversing himself after Ukrainians protested a bill he signed limiting the agencies' independence. ( VIEWPOINTS Failing the test: Massachusetts' fourth-grade reading scores could soon converge with Mississippi's. Why isn't that Disillusioned: Veronica J. White became a bar advocate believing that everyone deserves representation regardless of economic circumstances. Massachusetts Brave new world: AI is fracturing the student-teacher relationship. Using it lets students avoid learning and erodes teachers' trust that students aren't cheating, BESIDE THE POINT 🗓️ For your calendar: The Cambridge Jazz Festival, a Tennessee Williams prison drama that the playwright never got to see performed, and more 🥀 Green thumb: Climate change is altering the kinds of plants that can survive in gardens and yards. If you want yours to thrive, 🐍 Elusive: Conservationists feared that the world's smallest snake had gone extinct. They just proved themselves wrong. ( Advertisement 🥂 Dinner with Cupid: She's a medical student, he's in the Air Force. Will they find 🏠 Close to home: Thinking about downsizing? This company can help with the packing — 'Happy Gilmore': Adam Sandler's 1996 comedy ⛺ Beyond s'mores: Use these tips and recipes to Thanks for reading Starting Point. This newsletter was edited by ❓ Have a question for the team? Email us at ✍🏼 If someone sent you this newsletter, you can 📬 Delivered Monday through Friday. Ian Prasad Philbrick can be reached at
CNN
2 hours ago
- Entertainment
- CNN
Scientist unexpectedly finds shark devouring another shark
Scientist unexpectedly finds shark devouring another shark Wildlife biologist Forrest Galante came across a rare instance of female spotted wobbegong devouring a young male shark in New South Wales, Australia. Discovery and CNN share a corporate parent, Warner Bros. Discovery. Catch Shark Week on Discovery all week long. 01:22 - Source: CNN Automated CNN Shorts 10 videos Scientist unexpectedly finds shark devouring another shark Wildlife biologist Forrest Galante came across a rare instance of female spotted wobbegong devouring a young male shark in New South Wales, Australia. Discovery and CNN share a corporate parent, Warner Bros. Discovery. Catch Shark Week on Discovery all week long. 01:22 - Source: CNN 'This is a soap opera': 'Einstein' & 'Ives' react to Trump-Powell squabble CNN's Erin Burnett talks with Dan Ives and Peter Tuchman about the awkward moment between President Donald Trump and Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell during their tour of the Fed's $2.5 billion renovation project. 02:12 - Source: CNN Macron says France will recognize a Palestinian state French President Emmanuel Macron said France will recognize a Palestinian state in an announcement to the United Nations General Assembly in September. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has condemned the decision saying it 'rewards terror and risks creating another Iranian proxy, just as Gaza became.' 00:48 - Source: CNN How Hulk Hogan's historic lawsuit changed the face of media CNN's Chief Media Analyst Brian Stelter breaks down how a lawsuit brought by Hulk Hogan against the blog Gawker forever changed the media industry. The case, which was filed after Gawker published Hogan's sex tape, set the stage for a slew of A-list celebrities filing blockbuster lawsuits against media companies. 02:04 - Source: CNN Before and after photos show Trump's redesign of Rose Garden Before and after photos show the dramatic changes the Trump administration is making to the White House Rose Garden, including paving over the lawn. The garden has undergone several renovations since its creation by First Lady Ellen Wilson in 1913. 00:59 - Source: CNN All five acquitted in Hockey Canada sexual assault trial Within minutes of starting to read her verdict, the words of Justice Maria Carroccia resonated across Canada as she bluntly assessed that, 'I do not find the evidence of E.M. to be either credible or reliable.' Five professional hockey players -- Michael McLeod, Cal Foote, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube and Alex Formenton -- were all acquitted on Thursday, according to the Associated Press, on charges of sexual assault in connection with a June 2018 incident at a hotel room in London, Ontario, when they were members of the country's World Juniors hockey team. 01:19 - Source: CNN Palestinian Authority Prime Minister slams Israel for hunger crisis In an exclusive interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa reacts to Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer's assertion that 'there is no famine caused by Israel.' The government has denied responsibility and accuses Hamas of 'engineering' food shortages. 01:21 - Source: CNN Controversy over the Fed's renovation, explained The White House has seized on the Federal Reserve's $2.5 billion construction project as a potential legal opening to oust Fed Chair Jerome Powell. The renovation has become a new line of attack from President Trump, who has railed against Powell for not lowering interest rates enough. 02:18 - Source: CNN Trump and Powell clash over renovation costs at Federal Reserve President Donald Trump had an awkward exchange with Fed Chair Jerome Powell over the price of the Federal Reserve's $2.5 billion renovation. 00:49 - Source: CNN Detainees released from mega-prison CECOT An estimated 252 Venezuelans who had been imprisoned at the CECOT prison in March were released and returned to their home country in exchange for 10 US nationals and dozens of Venezuelan political prisoners, US officials said. Detainees celebrated their arrival home but also spoke about the conditions they faced - causing the Venezuelan government to open a formal investigation into several Salvadoran officials, including President Nayib Bukele, over the alleged abuse of Venezuelan migrants deported from the US. 01:42 - Source: CNN
CNN
9 hours ago
- Science
- CNN
Shark expert details encounter with ‘venomous shark'
Marine biologist and Shark Week expert Forrest Galante sits down with CNN's Fredricka Whitfield to describe his search for "venomous sharks."
CNN
9 hours ago
- Politics
- CNN
Scientist unexpectedly finds shark devouring another shark
Scientist unexpectedly finds shark devouring another shark Wildlife biologist Forrest Galante came across a rare instance of female spotted wobbegong devouring a young male shark in New South Wales, Australia. Discovery and CNN share a corporate parent, Warner Bros. Discovery. Catch Shark Week on Discovery all week long. 01:22 - Source: CNN Automated CNN Shorts 11 videos Scientist unexpectedly finds shark devouring another shark Wildlife biologist Forrest Galante came across a rare instance of female spotted wobbegong devouring a young male shark in New South Wales, Australia. Discovery and CNN share a corporate parent, Warner Bros. Discovery. Catch Shark Week on Discovery all week long. 01:22 - Source: CNN All five acquitted in Hockey Canada sexual assault trial Within minutes of starting to read her verdict, the words of Justice Maria Carroccia resonated across Canada as she bluntly assessed that, 'I do not find the evidence of E.M. to be either credible or reliable.' Five professional hockey players -- Michael McLeod, Cal Foote, Carter Hart, Dillon Dube and Alex Formenton -- were all acquitted on Thursday, according to the Associated Press, on charges of sexual assault in connection with a June 2018 incident at a hotel room in London, Ontario, when they were members of the country's World Juniors hockey team. 01:19 - Source: CNN Palestinian Authority Prime Minister slams Israel for hunger crisis In an exclusive interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa reacts to Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer's assertion that 'there is no famine caused by Israel.' The government has denied responsibility and accuses Hamas of 'engineering' food shortages. 01:21 - Source: CNN Controversy over the Fed's renovation, explained The White House has seized on the Federal Reserve's $2.5 billion construction project as a potential legal opening to oust Fed Chair Jerome Powell. The renovation has become a new line of attack from President Trump, who has railed against Powell for not lowering interest rates enough. 02:18 - Source: CNN Trump and Powell clash over renovation costs at Federal Reserve President Donald Trump had an awkward exchange with Fed Chair Jerome Powell over the price of the Federal Reserve's $2.5 billion renovation. 00:49 - Source: CNN Detainees released from mega-prison CECOT An estimated 252 Venezuelans who had been imprisoned at the CECOT prison in March were released and returned to their home country in exchange for 10 US nationals and dozens of Venezuelan political prisoners, US officials said. Detainees celebrated their arrival home but also spoke about the conditions they faced - causing the Venezuelan government to open a formal investigation into several Salvadoran officials, including President Nayib Bukele, over the alleged abuse of Venezuelan migrants deported from the US. 01:42 - Source: CNN Anne Burrell's death ruled a suicide Anne Burrell, who was best known as one of the Food Network's most popular stars, has died. Her death has been ruled a suicide. Burrell appeared on 'Worst Cooks in America,' 'Iron Chef America,' 'Chef Wanted with Anne Burrell' and 'The Best Thing I Ever Ate,' among many others. 00:24 - Source: CNN Police give update after Hulk Hogan's death The Clearwater police and fire personnel were dispatched to Hulk Hogan's home after a report of an individual in cardiac arrest. He was treated by fire and rescue crews when they arrived and transported to Morton Plant Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. 00:33 - Source: CNN Gaza father cries in agony after son shot dead More than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed near aid sites and convoys in the last eight weeks, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. CNN's Jeremy Diamond reports on the agony of a family who lost their 13-year-old son while waiting to get food. CNN has reached out to Israeli authorities regarding the incident, but did not receive a reply. 03:00 - Source: CNN Non-profit works to help children in Gaza CNN anchor MJ Lee speaks with former CNN international correspondent Arwa Damon about the aid work of her non-profit, Inara, for children in Gaza. 01:36 - Source: CNN What to expect from DOJ meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche is meeting with Jeffrey Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell in Tallahassee, Florida, two people familiar with the meeting tell CNN. Senior Justice Correspondent Evan Perez explains what to expect from the unusual meeting. 01:43 - Source: CNN
CNN
10 hours ago
- Politics
- CNN
Scientist unexpectedly finds shark devouring another shark
Scientist unexpectedly finds shark devouring another shark Wildlife biologist Forrest Galante came across a rare instance of female spotted wobbegong devouring a young male shark in New South Wales, Australia. Discovery and CNN share a corporate parent, Warner Bros. Discovery. Catch Shark Week on Discovery all week long. 01:22 - Source: CNN Automated CNN Shorts 11 videos Scientist unexpectedly finds shark devouring another shark Wildlife biologist Forrest Galante came across a rare instance of female spotted wobbegong devouring a young male shark in New South Wales, Australia. Discovery and CNN share a corporate parent, Warner Bros. Discovery. Catch Shark Week on Discovery all week long. 01:22 - Source: CNN Palestinian Authority Prime Minister slams Israel for hunger crisis In an exclusive interview with CNN's Christiane Amanpour, Palestinian Authority Prime Minister Mohammad Mustafa reacts to Israeli government spokesperson David Mencer's assertion that 'there is no famine caused by Israel.' The government has denied responsibility and accuses Hamas of 'engineering' food shortages. 01:21 - Source: CNN Controversy over the Fed's renovation, explained The White House has seized on the Federal Reserve's $2.5 billion construction project as a potential legal opening to oust Fed Chair Jerome Powell. The renovation has become a new line of attack from President Trump, who has railed against Powell for not lowering interest rates enough. 02:18 - Source: CNN Trump and Powell clash over renovation costs at Federal Reserve President Donald Trump had an awkward exchange with Fed Chair Jerome Powell over the price of the Federal Reserve's $2.5 billion renovation. 00:49 - Source: CNN Detainees released from mega-prison CECOT An estimated 252 Venezuelans who had been imprisoned at the CECOT prison in March were released and returned to their home country in exchange for 10 US nationals and dozens of Venezuelan political prisoners, US officials said. Detainees celebrated their arrival home but also spoke about the conditions they faced - causing the Venezuelan government to open a formal investigation into several Salvadoran officials, including President Nayib Bukele, over the alleged abuse of Venezuelan migrants deported from the US. 01:42 - Source: CNN Anne Burrell's death ruled a suicide Anne Burrell, who was best known as one of the Food Network's most popular stars, has died. Her death has been ruled a suicide. Burrell appeared on 'Worst Cooks in America,' 'Iron Chef America,' 'Chef Wanted with Anne Burrell' and 'The Best Thing I Ever Ate,' among many others. 00:24 - Source: CNN Police give update after Hulk Hogan's death The Clearwater police and fire personnel were dispatched to Hulk Hogan's home after a report of an individual in cardiac arrest. He was treated by fire and rescue crews when they arrived and transported to Morton Plant Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. 00:33 - Source: CNN Gaza father cries in agony after son shot dead More than 1,000 Palestinians have been killed near aid sites and convoys in the last eight weeks, according to the Palestinian Ministry of Health. CNN's Jeremy Diamond reports on the agony of a family who lost their 13-year-old son while waiting to get food. CNN has reached out to Israeli authorities regarding the incident, but did not receive a reply. 03:00 - Source: CNN Non-profit works to help children in Gaza CNN anchor MJ Lee speaks with former CNN international correspondent Arwa Damon about the aid work of her non-profit, Inara, for children in Gaza. 01:36 - Source: CNN What to expect from DOJ meeting with Ghislaine Maxwell Deputy Attorney General Todd Blanche is meeting with Jeffrey Epstein accomplice Ghislaine Maxwell in Tallahassee, Florida, two people familiar with the meeting tell CNN. Senior Justice Correspondent Evan Perez explains what to expect from the unusual meeting. 01:43 - Source: CNN Columbia president defends $220 million deal with Trump administration Columbia University announced that it has reached a $200 million settlement with the Trump administration following months of negotiation to restore federal funding to the school. The Trump administration accused the university of violating anti-discrimination laws and froze federal funding to critical scientific research. Columbia did not admit to wrongdoing. Acting Columbia University president Claire Shipman discussed the settlement with CNN's Kate Bolduan. 01:16 - Source: CNN
