Using Magnets and Stink Bombs to Keep Sharks at Bay

I guess this guy missed when mythbusters did tests on this very subject and proved that it was not consistent, they tested a range of shark ages as well as powers of magnets.

As far as scent, I'm sure that works quite well given the amazing olfactory senses sharks posses.

Playing Devil's Advocate since 1978

"The only constant in the universe is change"
-Heraclitus of Ephesus 535 BC - 475 BC

Can always count on you, CodeZero, to post something negative. THAT is the only constant in the universe.

sharks do have special sensors to detect electromagnetic radiation... so, theoretically I could see how magnets could work...

@Stompinstu,

LOL! Usually I'm the one getting bashed for posting "negative" comments.

Very interesting how, in my opinion, one of the most rational people on popsci is also apparently "negative"...

If I tell you Santa isn't real, are you going to tell me I'm being negative too?

I would imagine that the magnets would act like beacons, because the electromagnetic field they emit is so strong. The most I would picture it doing is annoying the sharks, similar to a constant droning sound. Stink bombs already work, though.
-Spouting a fountain of nonsense since 1995-

Santa exists BV - he just doesn't like you ;-)

Did Mythbusters focus on this particular metal? Do we know what the metal is? Anything to save the sharks sounds like a good idea to me.

Wow.. I love how pointing to another scientific study on the subject matter that happens to show a negative result is a negative comment about the topic at hand...

@B.V. what is this world coming to? Santa, not real? You horrible horrible person posting such a negative comment! How is it that no one posts about my positive comments?

@Beantown179 They worked with magnets, just like this study did. The study, on both accounts, is about the effect of electromagnetic fields on shark senses. But you might be on to something with the "metal" pitch. If the magnets used in this study contained some extra chemical in some way, shape or form that would no doubt change the outcome of the study. Mythbusters proved that electromagnetic fields were ineffective, so it's possible that the chemical differences in the materials used caused a positive result. I'd be interested in seeing the differences laid out.

And I agree, Anything to save all life forms, is a good idea.

Playing Devil's Advocate since 1978

"The only constant in the universe is change"
-Heraclitus of Ephesus 535 BC - 475 BC

@CodeZero,

I recall seeing that MythBusters episode, and from what I remember they simply laid out magnets to see if sharks would cross over them.

They found that they would. (actually I think maybe small baby sharks wouldn't do it)

Anyway, I don't think this is enough of a test. Humans have the ability to sense light waves... but simply turning on a light bulb isn't an adequate test to see whether or not a human could be prevented from advancing towards a light source.

If the test were performed with a flashbang, then it might indicate that bright blinding light is actually a pretty good deterrent for a human...

Same with the shark. Since a shark CAN detect electromagnetic waves (in the frequency that is outside the visible spectrum), it seems almost certain that it should be possible to overload those senses with high-intensity sensory input.

(An "electro-magnetic" flashbang, if you will.)

@B.V. I understand your thoughts, and I think a lot of other people had the same ideas (as did I) but if I'm not mistaken, they re-did the experiment covering the magnets as to not be viewable from the sharks, and the result was about the same, baby sharks were more likely to shy away from the magnets, adults had no such problem.

As far as for the potency/strenght of the the magnets used I cannot comment as that information isn't available to compare (mythbusters vs article). It very well might have the same effect as the analogy you used, but without seeing tech data on each, it's hard to determine. No doubt they can sense the field, I guess without more information we would have to assume that their reaction would have to be either instinctual or learned, which would be on par with the younger sharks shying away vs older sharks not caring.

I guess we'll just have to wait to see where this goes.

Playing Devil's Advocate since 1978

"The only constant in the universe is change"
-Heraclitus of Ephesus 535 BC - 475 BC

@CodeZero. I find it interesting that you would consider anything on mythbusters scientific. These guys are not scientist and they actually concluded "Myth confirmed" at the Bimini Biological field station before changing the approved experimental design and concluded myth "busted". I know because I was there during the filming of that episode. There are several peer reviewed real scientific articles on the repelling behavior of permanent magnets on sharks (ex.O'Connell et al., 2009: Marine and Freshwater Behavior and Physiology).