Scientists from Australia and South Africa found a simple approach to make the ocean safer for people. Ordinary LEDs mounted on the underside of a surfboard sharply reduce the risk of an attack by a great white shark.
The discovery is based on a psychological trick. Great white sharks hunt by recognizing silhouettes against a light background. A person on a board can resemble a seal—the shark’s primary prey. But when this silhouette is broken up with bright horizontal bands of light, the predator experiences a kind of “glitch”: the shape becomes harder to recognize, and its movement is difficult to interpret.
The method, called “counter-illumination,” is inspired by strategies used by creatures in deeper waters. It does not harm animals. It does not scare the animal away or cause injury; it simply makes the target harder to see. In contrast to nets and chemical solutions, LED lighting does not disrupt the ecological balance and is presented as safe for all participants in the marine environment. The LEDs themselves are compact and energy-efficient, and they can be easily built into existing equipment.
The researchers’ work is not a way to “defeat” a shark, but an act of mutual respect between people and the sea.
Source: Study Finds (2025-05-15)
