Teeth of a bull shark (Carcharhinus leucas). Source: Public Domain.

Matawan Man-Eater Mystery: Revisiting the 1916 Shark Attacks

July 1916 remains an unforgettable moment in maritime history, when the coastline of New Jersey became the site of underwater horror. Over a span of twelve days, a series of shark attacks—two in open ocean waters and three in the brackish Matawan Creek—sent shockwaves across the nation. The mysterious predator, nicknamed the Matawan Man-Eater, spurred

Fossil shark teeth of various shapes and sizes. By Luca Oddone. Source: CC BY-SA 3.0.

Glossopetrae: From Tongue Stones to Shark Teeth

Imagine yourself stumbling upon a jagged triangular stone glinting in the Mediterranean sun, with its sharp edges hinting at a mysterious past. What you’ve just stumbled upon was once known as glossopetrae or “tongue stones”.  For centuries, people across Europe believed these objects were the petrified tongues of mythical serpents or dragons. Glossopetrae had been

Face to face with a great white shark (Carcharodon carcharias). By Fallows C, Gallagher AJ, Hammerschlag N (2013). Source: CC BY 2.5.

World’s Oldest Recorded Shark Attacks

For as long as humans have ventured into the seas, we’ve shared the waters together with sharks. These remarkable creatures hold the title for the world’s oldest evolutionary history of any living apex predator, with roots stretching back at least 400 million years—way older than the dinosaurs. While shark attacks are rare and often misunderstood,