A shark-deterrent wetsuit (and it's not what you think) | Hamish Jolly

Hamish Jolly, an ocean swimmer in Australia, wanted a wetsuit that would deter a curious shark from mistaking him for a potential source of nourishment. (Which, statistically, is rare, but certainly a fate worth avoiding.) Working with a team of scientists, he and his friends came up with a fresh approach - not a shark cage, not a suit of chain-mail, but a sleek suit that taps our growing understanding of shark vision.
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[@klansix]

this is why you''ll never gonna see a zebra eaten by a shark

[@tismon]

it's actually the same reason zebras are black and white striped. It's based on the lions vision, it can't tell them apart at night, it just looks like a barcode. Don't ask me how the zebras figured that out though

[@Andrew-tl9gk]

This is why a zebra nerver gets attacked by lions

[@ruslbicycle6006]

@@tismon They use the barcode to purchase the wetsuit, obviously. Even a painted horse can figure it out. But not a shark. Sharks are big Trump fans (and vice versa, during an expensive Stormy newborn TV experience) so they miss obvious things like that.

[@jacobfirst2365]

Also navy ships were once painted these black and white stripes to hide fleets of ships! ✌️

[@MikaelMurstam]

@@tismon no it is to confuse insects, not lions.

[@geekgroupie42]

"it not what you think" what is it they thought i thought?

[@Ikimono]

As someone who has a fear of ocean water because of the thought of sharks, this made me exceptionally happy

[@carsonhunt4642]

For anyone who doesn't want to watch 12 minutes to find out what they are, here are the ideas: A suit that is shades of blue; camouflages swimmer with water color. 2nd, a suit that has black and white strips. (Like a zebra). Because it looks like the poisonous water snakes colors, and also is shades that are hard for shark to see and make out causing confusion to it.

[@enemysub9057]

Wouldn't that striped suit make you more susceptible to lion attacks though?

[@GC-ky4ym]

Hahahahahaha

[@jts2160]

@@t_ecchou lionfish 🤣

[@spirituellebuchermeditatio9264]

You are funny

[@danielmanahan692]

Don't these look like the old bathing suits of the 1920's?

[@Prathik1989]

They do.. which is interesting!

[@unvergebeneid]

I don't think it's ethical to throw zebras into shark-infested waters to test an idea for a new wetsuit.

[@rhunter42dragon]

Eh, I'm okay with it. Zebras are kind of assholes.

[@inanimation]

Suits so ugly, sharks turn away in distaste

[@zealotbr]

lolllllllllllll

[@MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP]

😆

[@karlslicher8520]

Do sharks retreat from the sound of an Orca pod hunting?

[@RiotHouseLP]

.....I wonder if we are now going to see a rise in sharks biting peoples heads off....

[@78musiksphere]

RiotHouse ooh good point makes you think, risk increased

[@ryanr7249]

It makes logical sense. Sharks often mistake humans as prey. By making the "prey" look different then all other prey it disrupts what they know and would stand to reason cause trepidation. Not to mention, those patterns often indicate in the ocean an animal that is either poisonous and/or not edible.

[@SafariLtd]

This is a really interesting concept and hopefully will help us move forward when sharing the waters with sharks.

[@PortbyhanMan]

I think there is one flaw in the theory behind the 'camo' wetsuit that breaks up silhouette. Sharks use more sense than we do; their ampullae of Lorenzini allows them to see and track electrical currents given off by organisms. In other words, nerve axons are likened to an electric current. Sight is but one sense in a sharks hunting arsenal.

[@eatwhatukiii2532]

Very true, and don’t forget their keen sense of smell that can detect tiny amounts for MILES. All factors come together for them to identify prey. Humans obviously smell different than fish or seals. I’d combine the two suits, the body blue patterned with the arms b & w striped. The solid black body on the b & w striped suit still resembles a seal.

[@MEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEEP]

Huh? 😆

[@IngviGautsson]

Interesting. But why does the title say "and it's not what you think", it was exactly what I thought it would be.

[@liveincar]

im gunna wear the zebra one next time i go shopping for a car.

[@alejandromunoz-mckearney5688]

Greg lastname this comment deserves a lot more recognition

[@osamabinladen824]

@@alejandromunoz-mckearney5688 True

[@channel1channel139]

Lol :)))

[@frangy865]

🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣🤣

[@zakariahlafreniere1332]

funny. just buy a tesla otherwise tell the ice salesman "I have a 420 beacon score."

[@choaty5]

11:11 the camo suit also enhances your pecker by creating an optical illusion

[@vechnyak]

No wonder sharks dont eat zebras. Now I know

[@mirandusings]

7:41 "We're ethically precluded from even using human shapes..." Could someone explain what the ethical violation would be in using human-shaped dummies for these experiments? The only reason I could think for why this would be problematic is that through the testing with chum-filled dummies you might indadvertedly train some sharks to associate a human shape with food.

[@nApucco]

I asked myself the same question and I came up with is the following possible answer: If we would use human shaped dummys filled with bait for all these tests, it could lead to those sharks growing accustomed to human shaped food, thus inadvertently training them to attack human shapes.

[@tracy9610]

That remark struck me too. I had the same thought as you, we don't want to tantalize them- See how yummy humans are? Hence, the drum.

[@OrthodoxAtheist]

I think you correctly answered your own question. Human-shaped dummies would be bad for the shark, as it would acclimatize them to humans; and, bad for humans to associate yummy-smelling food with human forms. Imagine if two months following their testing, someone was bitten or killed by a shark in the testing vicinity. They'd be ethically and legally liable. :|

[@oXGenesisXo]

I thought the same thing. I still think it wouldn't hurt much, there are many more sharks out there and its not like they work on a hive mind or something. I could see doing it remotely somewhere not even close to where people surf. But I do agree with not wanting to make humans look tasty to sharks.

[@JohnyTechReview]

Yes -- but instead of seeing a reaction of a shark to a human shape object.. I guess the first reaction we gonna get is from a real human wearing that suit. I know what they're trying to accomplish, but at the end of the day, the human is gonna be in it and in the water.

[@DylanBegazo]

..... no one is asking the big question: what is the success after the four years that this video was released and if successful how can I buy five of these suits! Tell me!

[@gh4kr]

What about the exposed head, feet and arms? Also, why not test this in the water on something human-shaped? Especially with the specific exposure of these areas?

[@obiwanjacobi]

Aqua camo and zebra suite - Awesome!

[@deim0s243]

The problem is not just the wetsuit, the sharks confuse humans with prey when they see them swimming on the surfboards from below, they look like seals or turtles when you see the surfboard and limbs moving around.

[@spirituellebuchermeditatio9264]

That's proofed that this information is wrong. They see very well and are not confused at all. Most they are curious and do a try bite, and some even like humans. Them who do, they don't stop eating us and get killed soon . But shakes have a very good sight. So no confusion, they can distinguish. Science was wrong with their suspects on they are confused.

[@TheAngrywhore]

...I highly doubt "incidents of shark engagements on humans are escalating world wide", it's just the fact that there just being more widely documented and reported on now...

[@58Kym]

It could well be true as overfishing takes its toll of shark food sources.

[@RoySchl]

it was exactly what i was thinking... you got thumbnails guys

[@LasPlagas245]

Saving lives, he's a hero.

[@eros4917]

wrong.

[@twiddleybits]

it's getting harder and harder to tell real ted talks from parodies

[@DanHipp]

It's very cool to find that sharks, like humans and most animals I've studied, are maximally visually stimulated by gabor patches. Ever go to an optometrist and take an eye test? The square or sinewave flicker pattern they flash to test your visual sensitivity is highly similar to the skunk, which wants to be detected and avoided, and to the the surfing wetsuit shown here, which possesses similar properties.

[@vivianvazquez578]

I once saw that really works is a (Underwater) Waterproof Blue Laser Burn Pointer 1 watt = (1000mW) or 2 Watts = ( 2000mW)

[@christopherhoostie53]

Aren't flies and similar type insects which feed on grazers, Zebras I am talking particularly here, also more apprehensive to feed on a single Zebra due to the striped formation on their bodies as well? They still get fed upon of course but I believe I have read this causes a minor relief from certain types.

[@ingnir]

Thanks for working on this

[@prakashdayanandan3176]

would have loved to see a control and the stripped suit against a shark

[@zetsumeinaito]

Diggin the blue camo suit.

[@Lobos222]

Looking like a seal might not be the best thing, but I am not sure this really helps. Predators have a tendency to be curious and scared of new things, until they get used to it and then attack. Remember the electro emitters, to confuse sharks, that were supposed to keep sharks away and how they suddenly were not that useful anymore... Predators adapt.

[@PhaseTwoFilming]

That's why I am partial to the evasive pattern instead of the deterrent. Being said there are hundreds of millions of sharks in the ocean (granted that figure is from a Google search as I don't have a background in this field, take it with a grain of salt but it seems reasonable to me) but the time it would take for them to learn if they even do, would make it worth the investment in my mind. Granted, this is coming from a diver who has little to no fear of having a shark encounter as is. I would really like to use the evasive pattern as not only is it something that would require a biological adaptation to defeat regularly, which would take lifetimes, but it is also more visually pleasing in my mind. Since sharks see in grayscale, I would be highly interested to see if they could make it in a non-blue scheme, that way fellow divers would be easily identified while maintaining the camouflage. In low visibility it is easy enough to lose your partner as is, with the blue color it is now it would undoubtedly make it harder on humans as well as sharks. (There's a reason many suits have bright highlights on the shoulders) Do you think the adaptation would happen fast enough to where the research would become futile?

[@Lobos222]

PhaseTwoFilming I am not saying its not worth trying. Just that its could just as well be a false sense of security... How long dose it take for animals to adapt. Really depends on the animal I would assume and that question is probably more suited for an expert. I just know that animals do adapt and that predators tend to do it faster.

[@writerconsidered]

Lobos222 adaptation depends on how smart the animal is. Sharks have some smarts but primarily they are an instinct machine operating on sensory input through it's vast array of senses. Probably a little slow at actual behavioral adaptation.

[@SAsgarters]

Come on. Sharks need to eat, too.

[@tyson1ize]

lolollolol!!!! true it's funny co's its true lolol doh!!

[@bengalaxycoding5939]

lol that is most definitely funny. no doubt about it.

[@SpiritofDaniel]

But if the sharks like Oreos you're screwed...

[@dragonheadthing]

As a shark lover, I'm glad to see this.

[@ValCronin]

Why not black and white stripe the surfer's torso as well? In what circumstances do you want to stand out/blend in? Was not clear to me...

[@Strorberry]

Just speculation here, but I wouldn't be surprised if it was because of how different the human anatomy is from typical fish anatomy. By only banding the arms and legs, when arms and legs move independently it would look more like a small group of banded fish rather than one large and very strange banded creature. Since the former exists in the sharks natural environment and is known to not make for good prey, the shark could be less curious/investigative of things that mimic it. But one large fully banded shape with lots of wiggly bits might seem like something new, something worth trying to make a meal of. Just my best guess, the actual reasoning might be different.

[@davidlarsen838]

My guess would be that most animals with stripes are smaller, like the snakes or fish. If the stripes get too big or to round the shark might not associate it with danger. New question, why use black instead of the blue camo that they used for lower depths?

[@ValCronin]

That's pretty much my question. Why include solid black at all after we saw what the shark did to the black drum.

[@Evoletization]

Val Cronin Doesn't look like solid black to me, I might be wrong, but even that dark area has a pattern.

[@tracy9610]

I agree with all the ideas here, but also: don't surfers spend the majority of time on their bellies, waiting for a wave? So the trunk is not exposed anyway.

[@xoJinester]

Where can I buy these ?!

[@SwitchMediaFlyz]

Saw this on the news here in STRAYA!!!

[@101mosioatunya]

Brilliant! And I have actually swum with Bull Sharks - in Cuba and in Belize (Shark's Cave). Luckily, visibility was good and they weren't hungry!!

[@spirituellebuchermeditatio9264]

Lucky you!

[@owydiu]

What impressive results!

[@e32b61]

Only question I have is about board silhouettes. If sun light is shining directly above you and your board has a silhouette not that different from a fat seal, the color won't matter to a shark attacking from below. It'll still appear dark. How does one prevent this?

[@mrN3w7]

+ArkhamInmateE32b LED lights to create the strip effect under the board... easily doable.

[@e32b61]

mrN3w7 Yeeessss... but not done here. What's more, that hasn't been tested. Will the the lights distract from the stripes or enhance them. How will sharks react to them? With curiosity or will they stay away? What I'm saying is there are questions the current design doesn't address and we can't adjust them without testing those adjustments as well. And let's not forget the effect the lights may have on surfing. Will surfers be willing to pay for lights if they feel they're not worth it due to various technical issues.

[@mrN3w7]

Obviously they need tested... but there should not be any technical issues. LEDs are quite cheap nowadays (and they get cheaper every year). The major thing will be to test and see how sharks react to them and the patterns they could create.

[@TheRivrPrncess]

Sharks do not mistake surfers on their boards for seals. We look nothing like a seal. Many shark experts now admit that sharks do not mistake us for seals.

[@frangy865]

Teaching sharks that THERE IS dinner inside one of those wetsuits....😲

[@TheBullDurham]

There were documentaries on this around 40 years ago.

[@samuelrangi3346]

where can you buy the black and white gear?

[@TheAkasolo]

Comment le requin détermine si l'appât est comestible ou non ??? cela est inscrit dans son adn ou dans son expérience ? How does the shark determine whether the bait is edible or not ??? This is recorded in his dna or in his experience ?

[@CS-yz3bv]

honestly, I think they should focus more on surfboard designs because the shark wont be able to see most of the wetsuit since they are on top of boards.......

[@sandonhenderson9044]

Chris Skane they have the zee bra sticker to put underneath the board.

[@naiils]

C S That’s a fair statement assuming only surfers 🏄‍♀️ enter the water. I’m glad that they are looking out for EVERYONE who enters the water- Divers, Spearo’s, , snorkelers, swimmers etc etc

[@geraldinafranco9098]

At least is at start. Keep it up!

[@JaniceMLeCocq]

Apparently, the stripes on zebras help deter flies....haven't head that the stripes deter lions! But, this is cool.

[@MECKENICALROBOT]

its like zebra strips as a fly/mosquito repellent :D

[@gnarrrrrrrrrrrr]

hmm nice sample size of 1 on the demo video... curious to see if this stands up to real science

[@kghunter297]

What a sales pitch. Hope this works.

[@fredhorinbein5622]

I will use Shark Banz thank you very much.

[@ats77]

is there any product of the use of this key? see sharkstop is one of the only ones on the market and still all black... so bit confused in 2022 what has happened...? thx neat TED

[@ElectricityTaster]

OMG, Ted knows what I think!

[@afanofcanta5357]

how do you even begin to study what colours a shark can see?

[@hartistry1957]

But adaptation says that there's that one rogue fish out there looking to try something new;)

[@tavaci81]

Why torso section is not striped?

[@jc4liferesearch5]

Where can you buy those suits ?

[@thursday9437]

now, work quicksilver, work

[@JamesWright1955]

I use a blue similar, and have interacted with tigers who are really misunderstood .

[@Smoke1]

I'd rather misunderstand them as dangerous animals than them misunderstand me as tasty food.

[@ats77]

2022, where is this suit??

[@abelucious]

I always wondered how come sharks never attack zebras.

[@samuelrangi3346]

how about also making them out of tear proof gear like shark stop wetsuits?

[@roidroid]

Wonder if we'll start seeing surfers with these patterns as *tattoos*.

[@isaacmchale8832]

0:29 is it fuckin magnets? I heard sharks hate magnets.

[@nolandderlugner1351]

why cant i buy this?? i dont find it online

[@hahahashish]

where can we see human trials video? xD

[@fingertapper6454]

thats great and all that but now i look like i just stepped out of an 80's themed party.

[@ruslbicycle6006]

The actual science was that. How to sell 80s themed gimmicks.

[@samuelrangi3346]

are they on sale

[@tampscutieee3051]

Can't believe that this invention was 9 years ago.

[@NiftyShifty1]

Awesome. Good on ya'll

[@slugslugster9338]

Amazing - if it saves one person its done its job, nice work.

[@ParaditeRs]

Shark attacks are so few and far in-between that the effort put into making this suite was wasted time.

[@ImrazorZodd]

What does @7:40 mean? How are they not able to do that?

[@bioman123]

He said it was unethical to do use humanoid shapes. Probably because using humanoid shapes could teach the sharks to associate those shapes with food.

[@ImrazorZodd]

Hmm, makes sense. Thanks.

[@LarsWilms]

It's unethical, apparently.

[@chastaine813]

Cool! Now just wear a full striped body suit while wearing a Shark shield\shocker and you got yourself an even lower chance of an already extremely low chance you'll get attacked by a shark in the ocean.

[@not38old97]

he started his speach referencing 5 people killed by sharks recently. I'll be sure to let them all know how unlikely you think shark attacks are. or maybe we can carve it on their headstones

@@not38old97 www.latimes.com/local/lanow/la-me-shark-attack-20180929-story.html www.mercurynews.com/2017/11/26/monterey-shark-bite-dad-tells-of-horrific-attack/ These two spots are my regular dive locations. My rule of thumb is, taste the water, usually there's this distinct taste in the water if sharks are around.....umm how to say...the water tastes salty, if the water tastes salty, they may just come say hi to a spearo

[@Rangeelaboy]

Giray YALÇIN water is always salty

[@user-zq9ed8wr7g]

Does the shark know that the suit is shark-deterrent? At least it's making people calm.

[@mashkusss]

Why not 720p? This is 2014, not 2001, guys!

[@SangoProductions213]

wow, that is soo.....amazing.

[@mickc.5889]

Brilliant ! I had thought it would have been bright colors like poisonous fish colors, But you tell us sharks only see in black and white, How did you determine that ?

[@kiboshkooks]

If you knew anything or even bothered to learn anything about the eye and its structure of rod cones etc, you would realise its quite easy to tell wht something can and cant see..

[@andyfam5613]

Never seen anyone wear it or reviews

[@Antipodean33]

I thought this as well, till i saw tiger sharks eating lethal sea snakes

[@chill187]

Great idea, but won't sharks still think your torso looks like a fish? I guess a quick death is better than bleeding out from losing a limb.

[@charlesE89]

Where can I but one of these?

[@charlesE89]

buy*

[@Iazzaboyce]

Why have the torso on the first wetsuit looking more like a seal?

[@Kasenkow]

hope the price is good

[@vesterlowe8911]

I say stripe the body as well that configuration makes your torso look like a seal.

[@ComputerLearning0]

+Vester Lowe My thoughts exactly...

[@astrogirl1usa]

+Vester Lowe I had the same thought. It's obvious.

[@ideapowerfulweapon]

My suit is a combo of red and black so I look like a gnawed on seal. Do you think I'm safe?

[@SteveStarskyPuss]

just buy a shark shield, They work.

[@AndyWJP]

I like the underwater (super hero) suit, not keen on the zebra suit.

[@franciscofrigerio]

So if sharks see in black and white these designs could be made in a lot of diferent colors that match with the same brightles scale

[@sokee1354]

Hairy Butler: A famous naturalist

[@somkit9102]

Yeah. Apparently he's totally famous in Australia.

[@joedanero]

Shark Deterent Wetsuits: Can these wet suits really deter sharks from having a nibble? Time will tell. Can't wait to see trial run results.

[@altclyti]

Ill tell ya what. If I had the choice in my next wetsuit purchase, I'd buy one of these!

[@barneyrow]

I'm no scientist, but surely the fact the physical silhouette created by a surfer and his/her board is not changed by a few stripes renders this entire project as little more than wishful thinking? If you've ever swum downwards and looked up at surfers or swimmers from below, the sun is so bright that you can't even see what they are wearing. Humans are not transparent - no pattern or colouring is going to hide the tasty-looking silhouette created by their body and board combined. Not to discourage more science exploring preventative measures of course, I just think this is a glaring question mark hanging over the whole project and would like to have heard it addressed.

[@GreggBlasingame]

If these shark-deterrent stripes work, put them everywhere in my humble opinion. No big black spot... I like to fish. Many of you know with these fish detectors, you can see under the water clear to the bottom. It will sound a alarm if fish are nearby or if you are in shallow water... They can design them to detect large fish I would think.. They already do... Why not put Radar on the bottom of the surfboard that sounds when large fish are in the area? Dolphins and seals would activate it no doubt... This would need to be tested of course. It might give the surfer a heart attack. On the other hand, some get a rush from fear. For those people, you could program it so it plays the theme song to Jaws. Thats only two musical notes, it should be easy enough. You could program it so, if those two notes are far apart, no worries... but if they get closer and closer and start to speed up, you better start walking on water!

[@Smoke1]

Why did they make the torso of the suit pure black? Isn't the shark just going to ignore the stripey limbs and attack the dark torso?

[@MattSteemson]

Because that part will be laying on the surfboard

[@Smoke1]

Matt Steemson What happens if the shark catches the surfer when he's not on his surfboard?

[@MattSteemson]

From my understanding the surfing wetsuit is designed to confuse a shark. You can't camouflage something from the surface so the stripy lines imitate sea snakes and potential venomous/poisonous marine life. It also breaks up the silhouette of the surfer and make them look less like a prey item. The shark will still see the surfer and may come closer but is more likely to dismiss the surfer than take an investigatory bite.

[@Smoke1]

The zebra pattern is a deterrent to sharks because it's a warning pattern found on a lot of toxic marine life, that's why sharks won't bite anything with that pattern - that's why I'm wondering why the designers didn't make the whole suit zebra pattern.

[@kennethschaijk8698]

what if fishes notice this and start evolving into this pattern and would become shark repellent.

[@tobiascoates9727]

kenneth schaijk you don't understand how evolution works do you. its based on natural selection and chance mutation meaning that there is no way that a given species can decide what to evolve.

[@kennethschaijk8698]

You do understand the concept of a joke don't u?

[@tobiascoates9727]

sorry, i generally identify jokes by their funny nature, you can see why it might be difficult to discern this one especially considering the sheer volume of utter imbeciles in the world and on the internet today.

[@tobiascoates9727]

+kenneth schaijk also, fish is already pluralised, no need to add an 'es''

[@yusef4440]

+kenneth schaijk Haha Toby got rekt.

[@TheDrunkardHu]

awesome!

[@PowerUpBeyond]

That was amazing :)

[@leishayoung4124]

Good on you, bloody Aussies. We may not build world class submarines but gees, every now and then we really do come up with something practical and useful to the human race.