NOVA Season 3 Episode 18 Inside the Shark

Inside the Shark is the eighteenth episode of the third season of NOVA, a documentary series that explores scientific subjects and investigations. The episode is a fascinating exploration of the world of sharks and their behavior.

The episode begins by discussing why sharks fascinate and scare humans so much. Sharks have been around for over 400 million years and are one of the most successful predators in the ocean. They come in all shapes and sizes, from the tiny pygmy shark to the giant whale shark. They are also incredibly efficient hunters, with some species able to detect prey from miles away.

To explore the world of sharks, the NOVA team travels to South Africa, where they meet up with a team of researchers studying great white sharks. The researchers are trying to unlock the secrets of how these creatures hunt and what motivates their behavior. One of the ways they do this is by using a custom-built, underwater robot called SharkCam.

SharkCam is a remarkable piece of technology that is able to capture stunning footage of sharks in their natural habitat. The camera is designed to look like a seal, which is one of the great white shark's favorite prey. The researchers hope that by using SharkCam, they can observe how the sharks approach and attack their prey.

Through their observations, the researchers make some surprising discoveries. First, they discover that some sharks have different hunting techniques depending on the type of prey they are targeting. For example, when hunting seals, sharks will often circle their prey before attacking. However, when hunting fish, they use a different technique that involves swimming in a straight line and suddenly lunging at their target.

They also discover that great white sharks have an incredible sense of smell. In fact, they can detect a single drop of blood in an Olympic-sized swimming pool. This sense of smell allows them to find their prey even when they are miles away.

Another fascinating discovery the researchers make is the role that social intelligence plays in shark behavior. They find that great white sharks have a complex social hierarchy, with dominant sharks bullying smaller, weaker ones. They also observe cases where sharks appear to be cooperating to hunt their prey.

Throughout the episode, the NOVA team also interviews experts and researchers who are studying other species of shark, such as the cookiecutter shark and the saw shark. These interviews provide a broader picture of the behavior and biology of sharks, and what makes them such fascinating creatures.

Overall, Inside the Shark is a thrilling and informative episode of NOVA that sheds light on the world of sharks in a way that is both entertaining and educational. Through incredible underwater footage and interviews with experts in the field, viewers gain a newfound appreciation for these incredible creatures and the role they play in the ocean ecosystem.