Latest news with #Sharktivity
Time Out
14-05-2025
- Entertainment
- Time Out
A 17-year cicada cycle is about to hit—here's what to know
One of summer's most recognizable sounds—along with lawn mowers and the clinking of ice in your porch beverage—is the song of the cicadas. The comforting (to some) buzz is found in southern states and in New England. These cool insects have the same lifespan as many dog breeds (13-17 years), and it's the males who make these passionate mating calls, which can reach 100 decibels—the same as a motorcycle or hairdryer. This year, something unusual is happening in the cicada world: the Brood XIV class will be seen for the first time since 2008, as reported by USA Today. These guys are kind of broody, kind of pompous like Louis XIV… and they're the second-largest periodical cicada brood, appearing for their fans every 17 years. That means high school juniors may have their first chance to see this Brood XIV class, so long as they live in one of 13 states. Those states where we can expect to see these rare singers are, in alphabetical order, Georgia, Kentucky, Maryland, Massachusetts, New Jersey, New York, North Carolina, Ohio, Pennsylvania, South Carolina, Tennessee, Virginia and West Virginia. Of these, Kentucky and Tennessee will see the most. Much like Cape Cod's Sharktivity app, which tracks sightings of sharks, there's a Cicada Safari tracker where you can report and post photos of cicadas you come across. Once cicadas show up, you'll have about six weeks of enjoying their lively show tunes, but by July, the only signs of them will be their exit routes, the holes they bore in the ground. They burrow as deep as two feet down and live subterranean lives until they emerge again (in 17 years if they are Brood XIV class).
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Science
- Yahoo
Season's first great white shark sighting in Massachusetts confirmed
NANTUCKET, Mass. (WWLP) – The season's first great white shark sighting was confirmed in Massachusetts, and Aquarium scientists are urging the public to be aware of their surroundings and report shark sightings if heading to the beach this summer. The New England Aquarium is urging the public to keep an eye out, be aware of their surroundings, and report shark sightings. The New England Aquarium says that on Sunday, a person noticed a pool of blood in the water off Smith's Point, the farthest west end of Nantucket. Examining the water, the person then saw a seal swimming toward he beach with a shark following it. Shark attacks: How much should you worry? Photos of the deceased seal were examined by shark expert John Chisholm, an adjunct scientist at the Aquarium, who confirmed that the wounds were from a white shark bite. 'This is the time of year when we like to remind people to be 'shark smart' as white sharks return to the inshore waters of New England, where they'll hunt seals and other prey through the summer and into the fall,' Chisholm said. The white shark, or the great white shark, is built for speed with its torpedo-shaped body and has the ability to raise their body temperature above the surrounding seawater, which is rare in the fish world. The Department of Fish and Game says small white sharks are known to feed on striped bass and larger sharks target seals or scavenging humpback, minke, and right whales in Massachusetts waters. To help beachgoers track and report shark sightings, the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy is encouraging people to use the 'Sharktivity' app. It also helps raise awareness of a healthy co-existence between sharks and people. 'Increased shark sightings can be a positive sign of a recovering marine ecosystem, but this recovery also means that people should take even more care while swimming or surfing,' said Dr. Nick Whitney, senior scientist and chair of the Anderson Cabot Center's Fisheries Science and Emerging Technologies program. 'Our work in the Aquarium's Anderson Cabot Center focuses on balancing ocean use with preservation, meaning we recognize the importance of the ocean for human use while trying to reduce the impact of humans on sharks, and vice versa.' WWLP-22News, an NBC affiliate, began broadcasting in March 1953 to provide local news, network, syndicated, and local programming to western Massachusetts. Watch the 22News Digital Edition weekdays at 4 p.m. on Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
Yahoo
13-05-2025
- Health
- Yahoo
First great white shark of the season confirmed off coast of Massachusetts
The first great white shark of the season has been confirmed off coast of Massachusetts. On Sunday, May 11, a witness noticed a pool of blood off Smith's Point in Madaket on the western end of Nantucket. The person then saw a seal swimming toward the beach with a shark following behind. J John Chisholm, an adjunct scientist in the Aquarium's Anderson Cabot Center for Ocean Life, examined photos of the seal's wounds and confirmed that the bite came from a white shark. 'This is the time of year when we like to remind people to be 'shark smart' as white sharks return to the inshore waters of New England, where they'll hunt seals and other prey through the summer and into the fall,' Chisholm said. The New England Aquarium is urging the public to be aware of their surroundings and report shark sightings. Chisholm recommends to be 'Shark Smart' which means being aware of sharks' presence in shallow waters, avoiding areas where seals are present or schools of fish are visible, and staying close to shore where emergency responders can reach you if needed. Over 15 shark species reside in New England waters depending on the time of year. The public can report sightings and stay informed on shark activity through the Atlantic White Shark Conservancy's Sharktivity app. 'Increased shark sightings can be a positive sign of a recovering marine ecosystem, but this recovery also means that people should take even more care while swimming or surfing,' said Dr. Nick Whitney, senior scientist and chair of the Anderson Cabot Center's Fisheries Science and Emerging Technologies program. The Sharktivity app, which is available to download on iPhone and Android, tracks sightings fed by researchers, safety officials, and users who upload photos for confirmation. Download the FREE Boston 25 News app for breaking news alerts. Follow Boston 25 News on Facebook and Twitter. | Watch Boston 25 News NOW
