Slashdot Mirror


Kevlar Protects Cables From Sharks, Experts Look For Protection From Shark Week

Brandon Butler writes As an ode to Shark Week: Sharks have been known to show an appetite for fiber cables underwater, and last week a Google official said to prevent sharks from wreaking havoc on the company's trans-Pacific fiber lines, it wraps them in Kevlar. It's believed that the emission of electrical currents from the fiber piping is mistaken by sharks occasionally as prey. In related news, a growing number of scientists are becoming disgruntled with the Discovery network's sensationalist programs. Many shark experts are refusing to work with the channel after such programs as their Megalodon "documentary" and their latest Shark of Darkness (not to mention the mermaid special, which was sadly missing a singing crab.)

Sockatume writes The Verge has an article on Discovery's hugely successful Shark Week, discussing how the increasing sensationalist special event misrepresents science and exploits nature and local history for shock value. Scientists who appeared in and were misrepresented by the channel's programming are beginning to encourage their peers to stay away from the Discovery network, which stands by the programming 's viewing figures.

7 of 103 comments (clear)

  1. Of course sharks attack fiber cables by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 2, Funny

    Fiber carries light from fricken' lasers

  2. Wow! by Arker · · Score: 5, Funny

    They wrap the sharks in kevlar? Now there is an exciting job. How much does it pay?

    --
    =-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-=-
    Friends don't let friends enable ecmascript.
  3. Re:The Discovery channel? by Ol+Olsoc · · Score: 5, Funny

    I don't know, I think the History channel (aka Conspiracy channel) might beat them for number 1.

    I just knew someone would bring them up. You are definitely correct. The H2 Channel is right up there too. They were showing Mayan apocalypse shows months after we were all destroyed.

    And to think, once upon a time they were actual decent networks. Now it's ancient alien swamp logging pawn shop owners.

    --
    The shepherds did so well protecting the flock that the sheep no longer believed that wolves existed.
  4. Obligatory joke by manu0601 · · Score: 5, Funny

    Kevlar does not protect from wireshark!

  5. Re:The Discovery channel? by Anonymous Coward · · Score: 3, Funny

    Aliens are responsible for that.

  6. Re:The Discovery channel? by fustakrakich · · Score: 5, Funny

    They were showing Mayan apocalypse shows months after we were all destroyed.

    What, everybody's still here?! Oh man! I am so late for work...

    --
    “He’s not deformed, he’s just drunk!”
  7. Re:Does fiber containing photons have current? by SuricouRaven · · Score: 4, Funny

    You have found a field so obscure that I am unable to tell if that is nonsense technobabble, or just science beyond my level of understanding.