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Analysis of fossil teeth upends what's known about megalodon's diet, scientists say
Analysis of fossil teeth upends what's known about megalodon's diet, scientists say

Yahoo

time7 days ago

  • General
  • Yahoo

Analysis of fossil teeth upends what's known about megalodon's diet, scientists say

Sign up for CNN's Wonder Theory science newsletter. Explore the universe with news on fascinating discoveries, scientific advancements and more. What scientists understand about the voracious feeding habits of the colossal megalodon could be up for some revision. The prehistoric predator that went extinct about 3.6 million years ago was not hunting only large marine mammals such as whales as researchers widely thought, a new study has found. Instead, minerals in fossilized teeth reveal that megalodon might have been an opportunistic feeder to meet its remarkable 100,000-calorie-per-day requirement. 'When available, it would probably have fed on large prey items, but when not available, it was flexible enough to feed also on smaller animals to fulfill its dietary requirements,' said lead study author Jeremy McCormack, a geoscientist at Goethe University in Frankfurt, Germany. The study, published Monday in the journal Earth and Planetary Science Letters, also showed there were regional differences in the giant shark's feeding habits. The finding suggests megalodon would pursue whatever was in local waters, devouring other top predators and smaller prey alike. 'They were not concentrating on certain prey types, but they must have fed throughout the food web, on many different species,' McCormack said. While certainly this was a fierce apex predator, and no one else would probably prey on an adult megalodon, it's clear that they themselves could potentially feed on almost everything else that swam around.' Megalodon dispatched its prey with a ferocious bite and lethal, serrated teeth that could reach up to 7 inches (18 centimeters) long — the size of a human hand. The superpredator's teeth — abundant in the fossil record — are what McCormack and his colleagues used to conduct a geochemical analysis, unlocking fresh clues that could challenge megalodon's role as sole king of the ancient seas. It's not the first time that a study has challenged previous knowledge about the enormous sea creature. In fact, many questions remain unanswered about Otodus megalodon — its scientific species name meaning 'giant tooth' — since no complete fossil has ever been discovered. The lack of hard evidence stems from the fact that fish skeletons are made of softer cartilage rather than bone, so they don't fossilize very well. Recent research found that the animal was more warm-blooded than other sharks, for example, and there is an ongoing debate about its size and shape. Scientists who created a 3D reconstruction suggested in 2022 that megalodon was about three times as long as a great white shark — about 52 feet (16 meters). However, a March study hypothesized that the megashark was actually much larger — up to 80 feet (24 meters) in length and even longer than the fictional version in the 2018 blockbuster 'The Meg,' which suggested the ancient predator was 75 feet (23 meters) from head to tail. As for megalodon's feeding habits, determining what it ate based on fossil evidence poses challenges, according to McCormack. 'We know that they fed on large marine mammals from tooth bite marks,' he said. 'Of course, you can see bite marks on the bones of marine mammals, but you will not see them if they fed on other sharks, because sharks don't have bones. So there's already a bias in this kind of fossil record.' To glean more about megalodon's prey selection, McCormack and his coauthors looked at the giant shark's fossilized teeth and compared them with those of other animals that lived at the same time, as well as teeth from modern sharks and other predators such as dolphins. The researchers used specimens from museum collections and samples from beached animal carcasses. Specifically, the study team conducted a lab analysis of zinc, a mineral that is acquired only through food. Zinc is essential for living organisms and plays a crucial role in tooth development. The ratio of heavy and light zinc isotopes in the sharks' tooth enamel preserves a record of the kind of animal matter that they ate. Different types, or isotopes, of zinc are absorbed when fish and other animals eat, but one of them — zinc-66 — is stored in tooth enamel much less than another, zinc-64. The ratio between those zinc isotopes widens the further away an animal gets from the lowest level of the food chain. That means that a fish eating other fish would have lower levels of zinc-66 compared with zinc-64, and the fish that eat those fish will have even less zinc-66 compared with zinc-64, creating ratio markers that can help draw up a sequence of the food chain. The researchers found that sea bream, a fish that feeds on mussels and crustaceans, was at the bottom of their reconstructed chain, followed by smaller sharks from the Carcharhinus genus, up to 9.8 feet (3 meters) in length, and extinct toothed whales comparable in size to modern dolphins. Farther up were larger sharks such as the Galeocerdo aduncus, similar to a modern tiger shark, and occupying the top slot was megalodon — but its zinc ratios were not so different as to suggest a massive gap with the lower-tier animals, meaning they might have been part of megalodon's diet, too. 'Based on our new results, we see that it was clear it could feed at the very top, but it was flexible enough to feed also on lower (levels of the food chain),' McCormack said. In addition, the researchers found megalodon was not alone at the top of the food chain but instead shared the spot with other 'opportunistic supercarnivores' such as its close relative Otodus chubutensis and the lesser-known Araloselachus cuspidatus, another giant fish-eating shark. That revelation challenges the assumption that megalodon was the exclusive ruler of the oceans and draws comparisons with the great white shark, another large opportunistic feeder. The finding also reinforces the idea that the rise of the great white may have been a factor in megalodon's extinction, according to paleobiologist Kenshu Shimada, one of the coauthors of the latest study. 'One of the contributing factors for the demise of megalodon has been hypothesized to be the rise of the great white shark, which feeds on fish when young and shifts its diet to marine mammals as it becomes larger,' said Shimada, a professor of biological and environmental sciences at DePaul University in Chicago. 'Our new study, that demonstrates the 'diet overlap' between the great white shark and megalodon, strengthens the idea that the evolution of the smaller, likely more agile and maneuverable great white shark could have indeed (driven) megalodon to extinction.' The new research allows scientists to recreate a snapshot of the marine food web that existed about 20 million years ago, according to Jack Cooper, a UK-based paleobiologist and megalodon expert who wasn't involved with the study. 'The general picture of megalodon has been of a gigantic shark munching on whales,' Cooper said in an email. 'This study adds a new dimension that megalodon probably had a wide range of prey — essentially, it probably ate not just whales but whatever it wanted.' Another interesting find, he added, is that megalodon's diet probably varied slightly between different populations, something observed in today's great white sharks. 'This makes sense and is something we would have probably expected since megalodon lived all over the world and not all of its prey items would have done; but it's wonderful to have concrete data supporting this hypothesis,' Cooper said. The study adds to a growing body of evidence that is reshaping commonly held beliefs about megalodon and its close relatives, said Alberto Collareta, a researcher in the department of Earth sciences at Italy's University of Pisa who was not involved in the research. 'These have led us to abandon traditional reconstruction of the megatooth sharks as 'inflated' versions of the modern white shark. We now know that the Megalodon was something else — in terms of size, shape and ancestry, and of biology, too,' Collareta said via email. 'The Miocene (palaeo)ecosystems in question did not work in a radically different way compared to their modern counterparts — even if they feature … completely extinct protagonists such as the megatooth sharks,' he added, highlighting what he found to be the report's key takeaway. 'That said, it is still useful to acknowledge that our understanding of the Meg is essentially limited to its ubiquitous teeth, a few vertebrae and a handful of scales. What I'd really love to see emerging from 'the foggy ruins of time' is a complete Meg skeleton… Let's hope that the fossil record will amaze us once again.'

Alexandra Loewy joins Miramax as President of Film
Alexandra Loewy joins Miramax as President of Film

Broadcast Pro

time26-05-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Broadcast Pro

Alexandra Loewy joins Miramax as President of Film

Loewy will work directly with Miramax CEO Jonathan Glickman. Miramax has appointed veteran film executive Alexandra Loewy as President of Film, marking her return to the studio where she began her career over two decades ago. Starting out as an assistant in Miramax's New York office, Loewy will now assume a top leadership role at the company, officially stepping into the position on May 27. She will be based in Los Angeles and report directly to Miramax CEO Jonathan Glickman, according to a report by Deadline. Glickman praised Loewy's appointment, highlighting her distinctive ability to identify standout projects and nurture emerging talent. 'Ali has a rare talent for spotting clutter-busting ideas and breakout filmmakers, pairing sharp creative instincts with real commercial firepower,' he said. 'She's exactly the kind of leader we need to take Miramax's legacy into its next chapter.' Her appointment follows the March hiring of Alix Jaffe, formerly of Village Roadshow, as Miramax's Television President, signaling a broader leadership restructuring at the studio. Prior to joining Miramax, Loewy served for over six years as President of Working Title Films, where she managed the company's Los Angeles office. During her tenure, she was executive producer of Coralie Fargeat's Oscar-nominated The Substance, as well as Nisha Ganatra's The High Note. She also oversaw production on Genie, a Peacock original film directed by Sam Boyd and written by Richard Curtis, featuring Melissa McCarthy and Paapa Essiedu. Earlier in her career, Loewy held the role of Senior Vice President of Production & Development at di Bonaventura Pictures. There, she supervised production on the global box office hit The Meg, which grossed over $529m worldwide and led to a sequel. She also developed the action thriller Plane for Lionsgate, starring Gerard Butler. Additional leadership roles included a tenure as Senior Vice President at Global Produce and previous work at Red Wagon, where she played a key role in discovering and developing Veronica Roth's Divergent series before it became a bestselling franchise.

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley doesn't see marriage as 'massively important'
Rosie Huntington-Whiteley doesn't see marriage as 'massively important'

Perth Now

time27-04-2025

  • Entertainment
  • Perth Now

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley doesn't see marriage as 'massively important'

Rosie Huntington-Whiteley doesn't feel it is "necessary" to marry Jason Statham. The 38-year-old model got engaged to 'The Meg' actor - with who she has Jack, eight, and three-year-old Bella - in 2016 after six years together but tying the knot isn't "massively important" to her, and if they eventually do exhange vows, it will be in a "low-key" celebration. She told the Sunday Times Style magazine: 'Maybe one day. It's not something that's ever been massively important to me. Throwing a big, fancy wedding is not something I feel is necessary at this point in my life. If we do, it will be low-key.' At 57, Jason is almost 20 years older than Rosie but the 'Transformers: Dark of the Moon' actress insisted their age gap has never been an issue and they have always just taken each day of their relationship "as it comes". She said: 'I'm committed to my family. I value the family unit and he's just been such an incredible person in my life. We take each day as it comes. There's a lot of love and fun and humour, and we just try to make it work. "Relationships go through many iterations. You just have to hold on. I try to show up as the best version of myself. You can only control your side of it, right? My happiness is not in his hands. I just try to do my part.' The family moved from Los Angeles to London in 2020, in part so Jason could be around for his family more, and Rosis praised her fiance for being a "very involved" parent. She said: 'He was like, 'I'm going to be away from you and the kids for big stretches [shooting movies]. If we move to London, I can make everything there.' So that was a really big reason. He goes to work and comes home at the end of the day, which is pretty special for somebody in his line of work. "Jason is a very involved and super-hands-on dad and such a supportive partner to me. "I call him the human playground because he's constantly got the kids on his back, rolling around. He's so playful. The man has insane amounts of energy, it's boundless. "He's a big kid himself but also an upbeat reinforcement and positive influence on them, and incredibly attentive, loving and capable. "I feel lucky that I'm at work today and he's with them and I don't need to call and give him a list of things to do and remind him of this or that. And the kids adore him.'

The trade war is coming for America's movies
The trade war is coming for America's movies

Yahoo

time11-04-2025

  • Business
  • Yahoo

The trade war is coming for America's movies

As trade war tensions between the U.S. and China escalate, one of America's most powerful exports is taking a hit — not soybeans or semiconductors, but stories. The China Film Administration announced Thursday that it would begin reducing the number of American films shown in Chinese theaters, ABC News reports. The move was framed as a direct response to tariff pressures from President Donald Trump, whose administration has raised levies on Chinese imports to 145%, which includes duties that were implemented in February. Chinese officials warned that the 'abuse [of] tariffs on China' would erode the domestic audience's favorability toward American films. When asked about China's retaliatory restrictions, Trump responded: 'I think I've heard of worse things.' For the American entertainment industry — long reliant on international markets, especially China — the escalating trade war isn't a minor development. Even if movie studios avoid direct tariffs, rising tensions risk disrupting revenue streams in less obvious but meaningful ways: tighter import quotas, streaming restrictions, reduced merchandising opportunities, and delays or cancellations of international co-productions. The downstream effects could be even more significant. When fewer people see a film overseas, the financial impact extends well beyond ticket sales. Lower visibility can weaken the broader commercial ecosystem built around popular intellectual property — including apparel, collectibles, licensing agreements, and theme park attractions. In an industry where audience exposure is closely tied to brand value, diminished global access can quietly constrain long-term growth. The U.S. media and entertainment sector is the largest in the world, valued at $649 billion out of a $2.8 trillion global market, according to PwC. The U.S. sector is projected to grow to $808 billion by 2028. That expansion depends heavily on access to foreign markets — especially China, which, in recent years, has become the world's second-largest film market and a key territory in Hollywood's international strategy. Major U.S. studios rely on international release windows, localized marketing, and global licensing networks to maximize returns on blockbuster productions. China's size, market growth, and influence have made it especially central to that model. With its regulators now citing tariffs as a rationale for cutting back on U.S. film imports, the risks to entertainment exports — and the industries that depend on them — are mounting. Take The Meg, the Jason Statham–led giant shark movie that became a global sensation in 2018. At first glance, it's popcorn fare with a big budget and bigger teeth. But beneath the surface, it was a U.S.-China co-production designed to appeal to both markets. Backed by Warner Bros. (WBD) and China's Gravity Pictures, the film wove in Chinese locations, Chinese talent, and cultural cues that resonated with Chinese audiences. The strategy paid off: Of the movie's $530 million global box office haul, over $150 million came from China — more than any market besides the U.S. The success of The Meg wasn't a fluke. Its 2023 sequel, Meg 2: The Trench, repeated the playbook and opened to a stronger debut in China than in North America. Without that international boost, particularly from Chinese theaters, neither film likely would have cleared profit margins or justified their nine-figure budgets. Perhaps more importantly, the fact that the franchise exists at all speaks to how Hollywood increasingly develops projects with China in mind — often not just as a buyer, but as a partner. These kinds of hybrid blockbusters are more than just movies. They're proof of concept for a globalized entertainment economy, one that turns co-productions into cultural exports and box office success into licensing, streaming, and merchandising empires. When geopolitical tensions chill that flow, the impact reverberates beyond ticket sales — shrinking the canvas for big, border-crossing stories and forcing studios to rethink which projects are worth the gamble. Few American companies exemplify the global reach of entertainment intellectual property (IP) like Disney (DIS). In 2023, Shanghai Disneyland attendance soared 164% as pandemic restrictions lifted, and in December, the park opened the world's first Zootopia-themed land — built specifically for its Chinese audience. That's not just branding; it's strategic infrastructure investment designed to turn storytelling into international tourism, retail, and recurring revenue. But the real commercial engine may lie in the merchandise. Disney's Duffy and Friends toyline — which has a relatively quiet presence in the U.S. — has become a cultural phenomenon in Asia, generating hundreds of millions in revenue. Its breakout character, LinaBell, debuted in Shanghai in 2021 and quickly became a merchandising juggernaut. Fans line up for hours to meet her in costume, buy plush toys, and of course, post the pictures online. This is what IP monetization looks like when it works: characters becoming products, becoming attractions, becoming brand equity. Disney remains the world's leading global licensor, with tens of billions in brand licensing every year. That includes everything from toys to clothes to lunchboxes — much of it reliant on cross-border partnerships and consumer demand in major overseas markets. When that flow is disrupted, the economic effects don't show up all at once. But they do show up. There are trade war implications for investors holding some of the biggest names in U.S. stocks. Disney, a Dow and S&P 500 heavyweight, is deeply exposed to shifts in foreign sentiment and market access — big enough, in fact, to drag the entire Dow lower when sentiment turns. Global players such as Sony (SONY), Comcast (CMCSA), and Netflix (NFLX) face similar risks, all relying on international licensing, co-productions, and streaming expansion to meet growth targets. Even tech giants such as Apple (AAPL) and Amazon (AMZN) have tied their futures to entertainment, investing heavily in original content and global distribution. For all these companies, geopolitical flare-ups don't need to trigger tariffs directly to do damage. Sentiment, access, and consumer goodwill are just as critical — and are potentially more fragile. This week's film quota crackdown could be a flashing yellow light. Chinese officials aren't just signaling frustration with tariffs — they're telegraphing a broader pushback against American 'pressure and selfish gains.' Cultural retaliation often comes just before or hand in hand with harsher trade restrictions, but in a world where stories are exportable assets, even soft bans can leave a mark. Investors should tune in. For the latest news, Facebook, Twitter and Instagram.

Largest shark that ever lived: Scientists unlock mystery about the megalodon
Largest shark that ever lived: Scientists unlock mystery about the megalodon

USA Today

time12-03-2025

  • Science
  • USA Today

Largest shark that ever lived: Scientists unlock mystery about the megalodon

The monster shark, depicted in the 2018 sci-fi horror film 'The Meg,' dominated the ocean 3.5 million years ago. USA TODAY The biggest, most formidable shark to have ever roamed the ocean may have been even larger than previously thought, according to a new study. The research, published Sunday in the journal 'Palaeontologia Electronica,' suggests that the megalodon, which dominated the ocean 3.5 million years ago, was more than three times the size of a great white shark. The monster shark, depicted in the 2018 sci-fi horror film " The Meg," was previously believed to be between 50 and 65 feet long. But the new study, conducted by researchers in 28 countries, found the megalodon could have reached a whopping 80 feet in length, roughly the size of two school buses. The study helps confirm the hypothesis that the megalodon was not 'merely a gigantic version of the modern-day great white shark,' as previously thought, said Phillip Sternes, an educator at SeaWorld San Diego and a researcher on the project. Instead, the shark could have closer cousins today. It also sheds light on the mystery of how the fearsome carnivore may have gone extinct millions of years ago – and the role the smaller great white shark played. How big was Megalodon? Scientists have long struggled to determine the size of the megalodon because no complete fossil of the extinct animal has been found. Past studies have estimated the megalodon's length and body shape by comparing it to the great white shark, which has similar large, serrated teeth. But Sternes said those studies relied on assumptions about similarities between only the two shark species. The new study compared megalodon fossils with more than 150 living and extinct shark species. It found the megalodon may have had a longer, more slender body resembling that of the modern lemon shark, rather than the great white. It could have ranged between around 54 feet long and 80 feet long, the study suggests. And that longer length isn't just a fun fact about the fearsome creatures. It could also paint a clearer picture about the way megalodons moved through the water. Kenshu Shimada, a paleobiology professor at DePaul University in Chicago who led the study, said findings about the megalodon's maybe-slender body align with what scientists already know about other gigantic aquatic animals: Thinner bodies allow long animals to swim more efficiently. If the megalodon was a similar shape and size to the modern great white shark, that stocky body would 'not allow it to be an efficient swimmer,' to catch prey and survive, Shimada explained. So what killed the megalodon? Little is known about how and why megalodon went extinct around 3 million years ago. But the study says the great white shark could have had something to do with it. The fossil record and 'inferred growth patterns,' suggests that the rise of the great white shark, and the competition it brought, actually helped lead to the demise of the megalodon, the study states. Researchers are still investigating the megalodon's evolution, but Sternes told USA TODAY one possibility is that the predator's large body might not have been as adaptable as smaller shark species, even if it could swim freely. 'We've learned about how the planet fluctuates with different environmental factors, how life responds to it,' he said. 'Understanding the past can better inform us about both the present and the future for life on Earth.'

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