Name: This Rare Earth Metal Repels Sharks
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Sharks are known to be sensitive to the electrical fields of magnets, but surprisingly, this non-magnetic rare earth metal repels them.

This Rare Earth Metal Repels Sharks

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Sharks are known to be sensitive to the electrical fields of magnets, but surprisingly, this non-magnetic rare earth metal repels them.

This is kryptonite for sharks. (2012)

Nature

This Rare Earth Metal Repels SharksPublished: August 27, 2024David Pogue: Rice was searching for the next great shark repellent when he made an accidental discovery that looks like it'll be good news for both man and fish. Step one, capture a shark.Dude, you just caught a shark with your bare hands.Then flip the shark upside down, which induces a trance state called tonic immobility. Once the shark is calm, we test its reaction to a piece of ordinary non-magnetic lead.Patrick Rice: Cover up her eyes.David Pogue: So, it's not a visual thing.Using a shield to make sure that the shark can't see the metal, I bring it close.Patrick Rice: No reaction.David Pogue: None at all.As expected. Next, a non-magnetic piece of samarium, a rare earth element. The expectation was that because it's non-magnetic, there would be no reaction.Oh man, she...Patrick Rice: She didn't like that at all.David Pogue: This is like kryptonite for sharks.Patrick Rice: Yes, it is.David Pogue: Wow, that's amazing. It woke her up and drove her crazy.Patrick Rice: Yep.David Pogue: So the idea is you could make what out of this stuff?Patrick Rice: Well, the idea is that it's not magnetic, so we could potentially incorporate it to a fishing hook, and then you got something that repels sharks but doesn't have the magnetic property, so it won't entangle the gear and stuff like that.

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This Rare Earth Metal Repels Sharks

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Support Provided By

Explore More

Hunting the Elements

Sharks Are Showing Up Earlier—and Staying Longer

Why Sharks Attack