Radiolab for Kids The Sea Troll: An Everlasting Shark?
Jun 20, 2025
Johnny Mones, a freelance science journalist passionate about marine life, dives deep into the enigmatic world of the Greenland shark. They explore how these seemingly unattractive creatures can live over 500 years, making them the longest-living vertebrates. Mones discusses their unique adaptations and the secret to their longevity, which comes at the cost of companionship and adventure. The episode also highlights the curious behaviors of deep-sea creatures, sparking a sense of wonder and engagement with these mysterious ocean dwellers.
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Shark Meat Makes Dogs 'Drunk'
- Greenlanders warn never to feed raw Greenland shark meat to sled dogs because it intoxicates them.
- Johnny Mones and Lulu Miller use this warning to show how the shark's flesh is unpalatable and toxic.
Failed Aging Methods: Ears and X-Rays
- John tried ear-stone counts and x-rays to age Greenland sharks but both methods failed.
- Johnny Mones recalls x-rays showing the shark vertebrae were "too soft" to provide age rings.
High-School Project That Changed The Case
- Christine dissected shark eye lenses and sent the nuclei for carbon-14 testing as a high-school project.
- Johnny Mones reports those small sharks tested as at least 200 years old.
