The megalodon has long been imagined as an enormous great white shark, but new research suggests that perception is all wrong. The study finds the prehistoric hunter had a much longer body—closer in shape to a lemon shark or even a large whale.

A new scientific study provides many new insights into the biology of the prehistoric gigantic shark, Megalodon or megatooth shark, which lived nearly worldwide 15-3.6 million years ago. Paleobiology professor Kenshu Shimada of DePaul University led the study along with 28 other shark, fossil, and vertebrate anatomy experts around the globe. Findings from the study will be published in the journal “Palaeontologia Electronica.”

Shark sightings by scuba divers reveal the movements of marine predators throughout the year, according to a study published February 26, 2025 in the open-access journal PLOS One by George Balchin, William Hughes and colleagues at the University of Sussex, U.K., and Aquaplanet Dive Center, South Africa.

Keeping work surfaces clean during meat processing is a challenge, so in this week’s Journal of Laser Applications, researchers deliver key insights into a solution that could change the current practice altogether: Instead of working to prevent bacteria buildup, they created surfaces that stop bacteria from attaching in the first place. Using lasers to etch and alter the surface of the metal, the team was able to create micro- or nanoscale textures that make it difficult for microbial cells to attach to the surface. The technique, known as laser-induced surface texturing, also alters the metal’s water-repellent properties.

Citizen scientists have the chance to join world-renowned microplastic experts on an expedition off the Atlantic coast.

 

University of Staffordshire’s Professor Claire Gwinnett and colleagues have joined forces with Basking Shark Scotland to conduct four expeditions this September – and members of the public can sign up to take part.

 

Lasting four days, each trip will leave from Inverness in Scotland and focus on monitoring microplastic pollution in feeding sites of endangered basking sharks.

Under-sea mountains are key locations for predators – with 41 times more sharks than the open ocean, new research shows.