Did you think about killing the shark? Sharks have been know to kill dolphins and an attack on your simulated dolphin could had happened. What do you think foam inside a shark's digestive system could have done? Please do not think of me as a tree hugger, I love your show

I would like to say that I have seen some improvement in the way the final verdict comes down on some of these less concretely-tested myths. I complained about the lack of scientific method after the sound avalanche was termed "busted".

While there are a number of ways this experiment could be improved (more trials, dolphin riding lower in the water, other improvements which may be deemed unethical [use of real dolphins and seals]) I was glad to see the conclusion for this one. Something along the lines of "based on this anecdotal evidence, this is plausible" was quite appropriate for the way things turned out.

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Originally posted by Phoenix-cry:
I grew up in the Caribbean and we have a human friendly dolphin named Jojo that roams the waters and he killed a shark for my mum just to show off. She was snorkeling and a five foot reef shark was minding his own business when Jojo came and rammed his snout into the shark's gills. He also killed a Tiger shark that got too close to a group of swimmers.

So if sharks aren't afraid of dolphins...they should be.

I heard something like this too. Dolphins ram their nose into the shark's gills and that can kill the shark or will most definitely turn it away. This isn't too hard to believe because they are so smart and such agile swimmers. So, yes I guess sharks are afraid of getting their gills bashed in. Mythbusters rocks.

Hello, a few people questioned about whether or not the shark could distinguish whether or not the object was in fact a dolphin. I have no question about the intelligence of dolphins, and they may exhibit some protective urges. But I would also like to bring up that large sharks that don't normally feed together may also be wary of each other. (possibly to avoid a feeding frenzy) There was an incident in California where a surfer was attacked by two sharks at once, not too long ago, but he survived. Some experts came to speak about why/how they thought the surfer had survived this incident. One of the comments made was that since there was a second shark present the other shark was somehow less aggressive in it's attack as it would have been. Maybe you could revisit this myth and test this hypothesis out. Maybe create a shark-like object, and why not, be crazy! Place a whole block of foam out there, a mattress; something that is obviously not a marine being. Maybe then we could see whether or not the shark is afraid of the dolphin object or just being wary.

I agree with the fact that the shark would be scared of any large, non-seal object floating in the area of the bait as a potential other predator that would defend it's kill (the bait).

Also, even if you show that sharks are afraid of dolphins doesn't say anything about dolphins defending helpless prey, maybe dolphins just like to defend themselves from sharks.

This just isn't a good myth to bust. it requires too many living beings and very very very very (VERY!) dangerous circumstances.

As a side note to nicka8:
The myth busters aren't scientists. they don't use any scientific evidence. ever. Their premise is to attempt to replicate the myth and see what happens, and from that data ALONE, give a final answer (however ridiculous) so the viewers have some closure. myths that require difficult circumstances and lots of variables just don't stand up to their way of testing. while myths like water tanks blowing up are perfect. one variable, temperature, just put it to max and see what happens. /rant.

I think you got some great results but I would have done a couple more things. Some and maybe all sharks have an electrical system to sort of x-ray things around them like to find fish buried in sand. The metal chain, drill and frame and certainly the battery and drill actually operating told the shark something and we don't know if it really thought it was a dolphin just by site alone. We think from our perspective too much.

I would have done two extra tests. 1, pulled out all the metal, batteries, drill and such and just dropped the foam that looks like a dolphin and see what it does. I would feed it plain fish again to make sure it will still eat when left alone and finally I would have tossed something in that did not look like a dolphin. Maybe a full foam mattress or even a persons old rubber wetsuit at least partly filled with air, Or with the suit only filled iith a little air and water and rocks so the suit sinka just under the water. This will remove a lot of doubt

....But to do it right, you bring a real flipper and put Adam in a steel mesh shark suit with his body covered in sashimi (He is easily replaceable) Then see if flipper saves Adam. You may not want to air the show if Flipper becomes breakfast.

If Adam becomes lunch you can add it to Discovery's show When Sharks Attack on Shark week.

I don't think this myth was completed entirely. I mean the shark did turn away from the fake dolphin, but the dolphin didn't even move to give the shark a reason to be scared. I think that if it were a real dolphin and a real seal next to it and the shark was trying to attact the seal I am positive the dolphin would swin around with agressive motions to fend off the shark. I think that this myth is hard to test without the real creatures involved, On the other hand if a shark stayed away from a fake non swiming dolphin then think about what it would do around a real one. Thanks for the Mythbuster shows. They are awesome.

I would think tat sharks would be able to sense live dolphin from teh fake one. On the other hand I'm not an expert. But, I would like to give pride to the Mythbusters for running the experiment properly! For the things they got into cosiderations, they realy looked at all the options. to my oppinion, one of the rare thoroughly run experiments. Ans, also, good job creating that dolphin!

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Originally posted by cabomyths:
Did you think about killing the shark? Sharks have been know to kill dolphins and an attack on your simulated dolphin could had happened. What do you think foam inside a shark's digestive system could have done? Please do not think of me as a tree hugger, I love your show

i have heard of a shark's gut being cut open (i think is was a bull shark to be exact) and license plates, shoes, and other humanly undigestable stuff found inside. so, i don't think foam would be any worse.

Not quite about the myth itself but I was watching a repeat in the UK the other day that was busting sickness remedies - remember the chair of vomit that Adam and Grant braved themselves on. My question to Adam is this. They busted everything except Ginger and over the counter medication. Did he even think about the ginger or do they not have faith in their results. I mean that would've been the perfect oppertunity to really test ginger on sea-sickness. I'm not saying I think their results are invalid and I love the show but does anyone else think it was an oppertunity missed?

This was the least scientific experiment of the show. First you have the shark's attitude. Second while it looked like a dolphin, it wasn't a dolphin.

I know you guys do the best you can but this one wasn't worth doing. Pretty much all of the tools you needed to honestly make an experiment weren't feasible, such as a reliable shark or a real dolphin.

I was watching the shark myth and saw something unusual. While in the shark cage, Jamie was interacting with a small aquatic creature. I am not sure, but it looked like a jellyfish. But not just any jelly fish, it looked like an Irukandji. From what i have seen you dont want to mess with one. They deliver a sting that can be fatal to even a large strong person. Also the sting is supposedly extremely painful. There are stories of people trying to cut off their limbs to stop the pain. I am no expert but that does not sound like fun. If anyone can could identify the animal in question, I would like to know. Thank You.

quote:

Originally posted by projectmayhem223:
This just isn't a good myth to bust. it requires too many living beings and very very very very (VERY!) dangerous circumstances.

As a side note to nicka8:
The myth busters aren't scientists. they don't use any scientific evidence. ever. Their premise is to attempt to replicate the myth and see what happens, and from that data ALONE, give a final answer (however ridiculous) so the viewers have some closure. myths that require difficult circumstances and lots of variables just don't stand up to their way of testing. while myths like water tanks blowing up are perfect. one variable, temperature, just put it to max and see what happens. /rant.

Pretty much what I was going to say. They are basically doing science experiments but less controlled. This was a case where too much was going on to really be sure (other have already pointed out the many variables) but they did get interesting result. I tend to think they overuse 'plausible' when giving their final answer but in this case it was the perfect answer. No need to revist.

On a side note this was the only myth tested during the episode that I thought was even worth testing.

I also wonder about Sonar. IF sharks can hear so great, what about the frequency of Dolphin sonar? Perhaps they aren't so much afraid, as they don't like the sound Dolphins emit. Isn't there research trying to determine if Sperm whales use sonar to stun squid?

Maybe next time replicate the dolphin sonar at a shark and see what happens.

I also agree that the robot dolphin might have been overpowering the shark's electrical senses.

I think the dolphin was a great replica, except I wonder if the paint or foam put off a strange smell in the water? What about the shark's other senses like hearing. Or the way the dolphin was floating would only really be silhouette. Are dolphins common in those waters? Can we be sure the shark understood what it was supposed to be?

This is a great show, you guys are all talented.

Another factor involved in the hunting criteria for sharks is their ability to detect the electro-magnetism of their prey. The Great White has an organ called an Ampullae that can detect the electro-magnetic signature of other animals. This organ is also why they can be repelled by a grasping of their snout. This action shorts out a sensory loop on the shark. This, according some, is where the striking of the snout of a shark to drive it away, stems from. I'm digressing but, the artificial dolphin could give off a very unusual electro-magnetic signature to the shark. I doubt if many drills are swimming around in the sharks hunting ground. Anyway another myth on sharks could be that their eyesight is very poor and that they rely on scent and electro-magnetic signatures to lock onto their prey. Anyone with more knowledge on the sharks hunting habits could offer a morer definitive answer,

I just saw that episode last night! And its something to realy think about.I meen, we all know dolphins aren't ALL cute.They got some tough in them.

P.S.if you read magic tree house, read the one called dolphins at daylight

I think the shark was being by the electric courent

I agree. They should have put another type of animatronic animal made from the same material next to the 'dolphin' in the water and see if it still deterred the shark.

This would have been relatively easy. Can't believe Adam & Jamie didn't do that.

Anyone see the story about the surfer in california who was supposedly saved by dolphins after being attacked.

I don't know that white sharks are "afraid" of dolphins, but I do believe in the right situation, a dolphin may defend another animal in an attack.