Shark Bites!

Although sharks rarely attack humans, scientists have spent more than a century trying to develop a way to prevent people from becoming shark snacks. They’ve tried everything from smelly repellents to powerful magnets. But nothing has worked.

Recently, companies started selling “bite-resistant” wet suits that promise to protect wearers. But do they actually work? To find out, scientists from Australia’s Flinders University tested four of these wet suits against attacks from wild great white sharks and tiger sharks. Their results suggest these suits are effective at preventing sharks from slicing and puncturing the skin. While the suits can’t protect people from the crushing force of a shark’s bite, their ability to reduce deadly wounds is revolutionary. “I was quite surprised,” says Charlie Huveneers, co-author of the study. “I did not think that bite-resistant material could reduce injuries from large predatory sharks.”

Sharks rarely attack humans. Still, scientists and engineers have spent more than a century trying to keep it from happening at all. They’ve tried everything from smelly repellents to powerful magnets. But nothing has worked.

Recently, companies started selling “bite-resistant” wet suits. They supposedly protect wearers from shark attacks. But do they actually work? Scientists from Australia’s Flinders University decided to find out. They tested the wet suit material against attacks from wild great white sharks and tiger sharks. The results? These suits are effective at keeping shark teeth from slicing and stabbing through skin.

The suits still can’t protect people from the crushing force of a shark’s bite. But their ability to reduce deadly wounds is a big deal. “I was quite surprised,” says Charlie Huveneers, co-author of the study. “I did not think that bite-resistant material could reduce injuries from large predatory sharks.”

After analyzing the damage, the scientists concluded that all the bite-resistant fabrics they tested offer a good amount of protection. But they also stress that these suits won’t prevent injuries from the force of a shark’s bite. For a great white shark, that can be as much as 4,000 pounds per square inch!

Their results: A person is more likely to survive a shark attack in one of these suits than in a regular wet suit. “While it does not prevent crushing or internal injuries, the main injuries are from tissue loss or losing blood,” says Huveneers. While it remains to be seen if these suits will save lives, they will help many swimmers and surfers feel safer in the water.

Later, the scientists analyzed the damage to the suits and foam underneath. They concluded that all four bite-resistant fabrics offer a good amount of protection. But they also stress that these suits won’t prevent all injuries. The force of a shark’s bite can be crushing. For a great white shark, it’s as much as 4,000 pounds per square inch!

A bite-resistant suit “does not prevent crushing or internal injuries,” says Huveneers. But usually, “the main injuries are from tissue loss or losing blood.” That means a person is more likely to survive a shark attack in one of these suits than in a regular wet suit. It remains to be seen if these suits will actually save lives. But they’ll definitely help many swimmers and surfers feel safer in the water.