BIG PIC: Giant Shark BeachedA basking shark washes up on the shores of Long Island.
 July, 15 2009 -- A 20-foot-long basking shark washed up on Gilgo Beach, on New York's Long Island, Tuesday morning with no visible wounds or injuries, officials said. Surfers watched the enormous basking shark circle the waves and then wash up on a town beach a few miles east of Jones Beach. It was dead by the time officials arrived, Newsday reported. The creature is estimated to weigh 2,000 pounds. Tracy Marcus of Cornell Cooperative Extension told The Associated Press the shark probably had some kind of illness. New York State Parks official George Gorman said researchers would examine the shark to determine how it died. After that, it will be buried in nearby sand dunes. Basking sharks are common in the waters off Long Island, where they feast on plankton. Basking sharks aren't considered dangerous to humans. WATCH VIDEO: Sharks, sharks, sharks! Photo credit: Sophia Hall/Associated Press Get More NewsSpiders, Scorpions Among World's Oldest CreaturesMany creepy crawlies have been on Earth much longer than previously believed.Blood-Sucking Vampire Bats Sing DuetsWhite-winged vampire bats "harmonize" with separated roost mates.Oldest Hebrew Writing Possibly FoundAncient inscriptions on a 3,000-year-old pottery shard could make history.Rare, Prehistoric-Age Reptile Found in N.Z.A tuatara has been spotted on the New Zealand mainland for the first time in 200 years.Iceman Has No Living RelativesOetzi, the 5,300 year-old frozen mummy, left no living genetic legacy.SLIDE SHOW: Landscapes of TerrorWhat makes a place feel scary? There are scientific explanations.It's Official: People Are Warming the PolesHumans are conclusively to blame for polar warming, say scientists.Eight-Armed Animal Preceded DinosaursWhat may be one of Earth's first animals was no bigger than a coaster and had eight arms.Phoenicians Live on in People's GenesOne in 17 Mediterranean men may be descended from ancient Phoenicians.Pesticides, Fertilizers Linked to Frog DeclineA pesticide is found to promote parasites among amphibians.Hubble Telescope Taking Photos AgainThe Hubble Space Telescope is once again snapping stunning photos of the universe.Andean Mummy Hairs Show Hallucinogen UseScientists find direct evidence of hallucinogenic drug use among ancient Andeans.Opals on Mars Reveal Planet's Long Wet PastOpals found on Mars suggest the planet has been wet for much longer. |
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Celebrate the OceansShark Week!: Da-dun. Da-dun. It's coming. Aug. 2, 2009... Puzzle: Do a puzzle in honor of our oceans. Video: Visit the Smithsonian's new Ocean Hall. Giant Freaky Waves Quiz: What do you know about waves? Grab This News Widget!
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