It's a favorite time of year for some beach lovers and sea life enthusiasts: the annual Discovery Channel extravaganza that focuses 24 hours of TV programming on - you guessed it - sharks!
But why do people care so much about sharks? Sharks are vicious predators, strong and sleek swimmers, intuitive hunters, and ancient animals. They have existed in some form for about 400 million years (yes, since before the dinosaurs), and still thrive in most of the world's waters today.
Sharks also have a sense of electromagnetism that helps them navigate the oceans, find other sharks, and hunt for prey. With 440 different species of sharks known, they span the spectrum in size, shape, and characteristics, from the tiny dwarf lantern shark to the well-known and feared great white.