Netflix subscribers need not search elsewhere for their Halloween horror thrills. As the ghastliest day of the year descends upon us, cinephiles will be sifting through their library to find eerie selections to spook themselves this weekend. Amidst a trove of classic horrors offering goosebumps of nostalgia, one cult hit from 2014 might just be…
Since the unexpected discovery of a megamouth shark (Megachasma pelagios) entangled in a parachute sea anchor off the coast of Hawaii in 1976, the scientific community has been captivated by this rather odd species.
Despite its impressive size — growing over 23 feet (7 meters) long and weighing more than 2425 pounds (1100 kilograms) — less than 300 individuals have been documented since that first encounter. Unlike the more familiar whale (Rhincodon typus) and basking sharks (Cetorhinus maximus), the megamouth remains a shadowy figure in our history books. Rarely seen… and even more rarely studied. Unlike more commonly studied sharks, the megamouth shark has not been the subject of long-term tracking studies. As a result, scientists have been left to hypothesize about their migratory patterns, seasonal habitat use, and the driving factors behind these movements based on sparse data. One study tracked a single megamouth shark off southern California for just over two days, revealing a pattern of vertical migration—rising toward the surface at night and descending into deeper waters during the day. However, whether this behavior is typical of the species or just one of several movement strategies remains unclear.
What we do know about them is pieced together from chance captures, strandings, and a few sightings. For example, scientists know megamouths roam the neritic and oceanic waters of tropical and subtropical latitudes, spanning depths from the surface down to the bathypelagic zone over 3937 ft (1200 m) deep. Their broad depth range and diet of vertically migrating zooplankton suggest that the megamouth shark may rely more on deep-sea prey than previously thought. Unique to this species is a white band of denticles across its upper jaw, which researchers believe could reflect bioluminescent light from deep-sea plankton, potentially attracting prey in the dark waters where these sharks often roam. Understanding these deep-sea behaviors is crucial, especially since the megamouth shark inhabits some of the most polluted waters on Earth, where microplastics pose a threat to other filter-feeding species.
And while the International Union for Conservation of Nature lists the megamouth shark as Least Concern, with an unknown population trend, this status offers little comfort to conservationists, given the species’ vast and largely unexplored range. With their slow reproductive rates and potentially long lifespans, any increase in mortality could have a significant impact on their populations.
Thus, a recent study set out to investigate the horizontal and vertical movements of megamouth sharks in the northwest Pacific, focusing on waters off the coast of Taiwan. By tagging adult megamouth sharks with pop-up satellite archival transmitters, researchers were able to track their movements for periods ranging from 12 to 244 days. The data revealed that megamouth sharks exhibit a pattern of normal diel vertical migration, spending most of their daylight hours in the mesopelagic zone, which lies between 656 – 3280 ft (200 – 1,000 m) deep. At night, they ascend to the epipelagic zone, closer to the surface. This behavior is consistent with the movement of their prey—zooplankton that also migrate vertically. By following this food source, megamouth sharks likely optimize their feeding efficiency while minimizing the risk of predation.
The study’s findings also revealed that megamouth sharks may exhibit behavioral thermoregulation, adjusting their depth to remain within an optimal temperature range. This is a significant insight into megamouths, as it suggests that these sharks are not merely passive drifters in the ocean currents but active participants in managing their thermal environment. Such behavior would allow them to conserve energy and maintain their physiological functions in the varying thermal conditions they encounter during their vertical migrations.
SIZUOKA, JAPAN: Children peer into a stuffed specimen of a 4.2-meter-long megamouth shark at Tokai … [+] University Marine Science Museum in Sizuoka, 200km west of Tokyo, 18 August 2004. The unique species of shark is one of only 21 of its type that have been caught since 1976 off Hawaii. The world’s first stuffed megamouth, which was caught 07 August 2003 near Shizuoka, is on display until 31 August at the museum. AFP PHOTO/Toru YAMANAKA (Photo credit should read TORU YAMANAKA/AFP via Getty Images)AFP via Getty Images
Yet, the most intriguing finding was their apparent fidelity to specific regions, particularly the waters east of Taiwan. One of the tagged sharks remained in this area for an extended period, suggesting that megamouth sharks might have preferred habitats or seasonal residences. However, the data also showed broader-scale movements, with one shark traveling into the South China Sea, indicating that their range can extend well beyond these core areas. The authors believe this data challenges previous assumptions that megamouth sharks are primarily nomadic, suggesting instead that they may have more intricate spatial strategies that vary with life stage, season, and possibly sex.
Despite the valuable insights gained from this study, many questions about megamouth sharks remain unanswered. For example, it is still unclear whether the observed migratory and behavioral patterns are consistent across different populations or if they vary depending on environmental conditions. There is also a considerable lack of data on juvenile megamouth sharks that leaves a significant gap in our understanding of their early life stages and how these might influence their later behavior and survival. While this study is a significant step forward, it also underscores the need for further research to fully understand the species’ role in the marine ecosystem and the potential threats it faces. Future research will need to focus on longer-term tracking and broader sampling to fully uncover the secrets of the megamouth shark’s movements and behavior in the deep ocean.
One of South Carolina’s largest technology companies is working with a major Wall Street dealmaker to sort out the future of its biggest-ever acquisition, a $750 million investment that hasn’t paid off.Blackbaud Inc. said Oct. 30 that it’s working with bankers at Goldman Sachs to review “strategic options” for Everfi, including the possibility of a sale of the online education unit.
The Daniel Island-based company also “recently right-sized” the struggling subsidiary and eliminated “some pretty substantial” expenses to better match up the costs with the revenue, CEO Mike Gianoni told financial analysts during a conference call.”We’ve got Goldman Sachs on the case here to work with us. So, we’ll resolve this problem,” Gianoni said.
Blackbaud said in a written statement late after the earnings call that the cost reductions included “a small reduction in workforce in some areas within the Everfi business, but that was a relatively small component.”The update was included in a quarterly sales and profit report that fell short of Wall Street’s expectations, triggering a sharp sell-off in Blackbaud’s stock. Shares of the Nasdaq-listed company skidded 15 percent to $74.29.
The slumping Everfi business also prompted Blackbaud to cut its 2024 revenue estimate by between $14 million and $34 million. The company now expects its total sales for the year to fall in the $1.15 billion to $1.16 billion range.
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“We expect headwinds at Everfi to continue in the near term, which is reflected in our revised guide,” said Tony Boor, chief financial officer.Acquired in late 2021, Everfi was an established player in a growing $10 billion market, with 500 workers, $120 million in annual revenue and 2,000-plus customers that included big banks and the National Football League.
At the time, the Washington, D.C.-based company was riding a hot trend. In addition to selling standard digital learning products for K-12 students, its platform could help big businesses meet “environmental, social and governance” goals, or ESG, by providing them with online content ranging from financial wellness to racial equity and workplace diversity.
Everfi was expected to boost Blackbaud’s top line with annual sales gains of nearly 20 percent, but it hasn’t followed through. Its 2024 revenue is down 17 percent to $67 million through Sept. 30.Earlier this year, Gianoni told investors unfavorable shifts in spending on “corporate social responsibility” programs were hurting Everfi. The CEO also announced that a turnaround plan was in the works.Gianoni said Wednesday that the customers he’s met remain “enamored” with the subsidiary’s online products. He rattled off several “wins” Everfi has finalized this year with customers such as NASCAR, Truth Initiative and Guardian Life Insurance Co.
“There’s just been some macro pullback in the space, which has caused the business to … struggle … . In fact, it’s going backwards a bit. But it’s not all doom and gloom,” he said.
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ASHEVILLE – Even as the city remains without clean water after Tropical Storm Helene, the Buncombe County Tourism Development Authority and Explore Asheville have restarted marketing efforts as the region braces for sustained economic unrest.After the Biltmore announced it’s reopening date of Nov. 2 and the NC Arboretum’s reopening on Oct. 28, the BCTDA plans to continue to encourage visitors back to the region in “pockets and stages,” said Dodie Stephens, Explore Asheville’s vice president of marketing.Visitors should come to Asheville with “heart, patience and careful planning,” she said during the BCTDA’s Oct. 30 meeting.By restarting advertising, the BCTDA is essentially re-inviting tourists back to the mountains. With the North Carolina Department of Transportation’s guidance, the county was placed under a “yellow” travel advisory on VisitNC’s Travel Advisory Map on Oct. 19, meaning that tourists should check for closures and limitations prior to visiting.The storm caused an estimated damage of nearly $54 billion across Western North Carolina, making it the most expensive in the state’s history. Across the city of Asheville, the floods destroyed houses, businesses and an estimated 80% of the River Arts District — which had been flourishing with breweries, restaurants and new apartments along the French Broad River.Over 12% of Asheville’s jobs are in the food preparation and serving industry, according to the United States Bureau of Labor Statistics. It’s the largest share of any industry in the city, and stands to be one of the most impacted by the storm. Some worry that workers will leave as opportunity remains low.Visitors contributed $3 billion to Buncombe County’s economy in 2023, a report from VisitNC said in August. North Carolina Gov. Roy Cooper had previously told the Citizen Times that tourists should stay home given the poor conditions of the region after Helene. During that time, Explore Asheville had paused marketing efforts.One of the major reasons for reopening Asheville is to keep area businesses afloat given Helene’s damage. The Federal Emergency Management Agency estimates 43% of small businesses affected by disasters never reopen, while an additional 29% go out of business within two years of a disaster. Long-term closures have likely already changed Asheville’s workforce, BCTDA CEO Vic Isley said.”I’ve heard many conversations over the last several weeks that many of our frontline workforce is already in other communities.” Isley said, estimating that some have said that it’s currently between “20-30%” of workers.”We know that we need to be a catalyst in terms of making sure that we do not have an economic disaster following a natural disaster,” Isley said during the meeting.Months ahead the hardestCurrently, forecasts for the hospitality industry are grim. Tourism Economics, a tourism analytics firm the authority works with, projected that collected lodging taxes will likely be between 45% to 30% lower than originally expected for the next nine months, meaning fewer visitors going to shows, eating in restaurants and traveling to see the Blue Ridge Mountains.The next few months will likely be the hardest, projections show.Compared to 2023 and 2024, collected lodging taxes are projected to decline between 45%-40% in November, December and January. The pace of economic recovery could depend on how fast essential services and other attractions are restored, Isley said. The BCTDA’s operating budget makes up two-thirds of total lodging tax revenue, while the other third is split between two funds spent on tourism development projects.After natural disasters, tourism industry recovery efforts can be years-long efforts, but most do recover within one year, according to Tourism Economics. After Hurricane Katrina, New Orleans took three and a half years to recover. Puerto Rico took two years to recover after Hurricane Maria.Isley described Katrina’s impacts on New Orleans as “probably the closest” to Asheville’s situation post-Helene.Compared to other cities affected by major storms, the element of damaged water infrastructure is somewhat of an outlier in comparative recovery efforts, Isley noted.Few locations that face disastrous flooding also experienced the total collapse of public infrastructure as Asheville has with its water system. Even as the city has finished the installation of turbidity curtains at the North Fork Reservoir, it’s still unclear how long the city is going to go without clean water.”I hope it’s sooner than later, but I don’t know if it’s going to be a week, two weeks, another month away,” said HP Patel, a BCTDA board member who is also a local hotelier in the area. “We just lost our busiest month out of the year.”More:Heroes and heartbreak: 36 hours of hell during Helene’s historic floodsWill Hofmann is the Growth and Development Reporter for the Asheville Citizen Times, part of the USA Today Network. Got a tip? Email him at [email protected]. Consider supporting this type of journalism with a subscription to the Citizen Times.
Jakarta (ANTARA) – Minister of State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) Erick Thohir met with Tourism Minister Widiyanti Putri Wardhana to discuss collaboration in tourism development to strengthen tourist attractions and support national economic growth.”Today, we received a visit from Minister Wardhana and her entourage,” Thohir remarked after the meeting on Thursday.At the meeting, the two ministers agreed to form a joint Project Management Officer (PMO) team to ensure continued collaboration in supporting optimal and sustainable development of the tourism sector.According to the minister, the agreement aligns with President Prabowo Subianto’s vision of placing tourism as an important sector for national economic growth and increasing Indonesian tourism’s competitiveness at the global level.Thohir said his side has integrated various important components, including transportation, infrastructure, and other supporting facilities, from airports, and planes, to hotels, to support the tourism sector.He remarked that the successful management of tourist destinations, such as Borobudur, with its function as a religious and spiritual destination, demonstrates his commitment.Related news: Village tourism can support Indonesia’s development, says researcherFurthermore, his side developed Mandalika in West Nusa Tenggara (NTB) as a sports tourism destination and improved infrastructure in Bali through special economic projects in the Benoa area as a concrete step of synergy between ministries.On the same occasion, Minister Wardhana affirmed that the two sides discussed various existing collaborations carried out by the previous administration and planning strategic steps for the next five years.She said that SOEs had played a positive role in developing major tourism destinations such as Borobudur and Mandalika.”Minister Thohir and his ranks have made tremendous efforts for our tourism, such as the development of Borobudur and Mandalika,” she remarked.Furthermore, Wardhana expressed hope to expand the scope of this collaboration to other tourist areas in Indonesia to increase the attractiveness of Indonesian tourism competing at the global level.”We will improve this collaboration for other tourist areas,” she noted.Related news: Indonesia pursues sustainability in tourism development: MinisterTranslator: Muhammad Harianto, Resinta SulistiyandariEditor: Yuni Arisandy SinagaCopyright © ANTARA 2024
TITLE: Concise Law of Banking AUTHOR: Nana Kegya Appiah-Adu (Mrs) PUBLISHER: Ace Publisher, Accra, 2024 REVIEWER: Professor Edmund Kwaw Nana Kegya Appiah-Adu’s text on banking law is a detailed examination of key topics in the law of banking. The organization of the book is coherent and logical. In Chapter 1, Nana Kegya Appiah-Adu delves…
A massive chunk of cliff came crashing onto a busy promenade at a holiday hotspot – forcing the seaside council to close off the area completely. There are fears that another landslide is imminent after a large part of the 120ft cliff on Bournemouth’s West Cliff slid down to the promenade on October 19. The…
Governor Hochul Announces New York Has Landed the First National Semiconductor Technology Center Facility in the Nation – Technology Today – EIN Presswire
—Christchurch, known for its English heritage and gateway to New Zealand’s South Island, offers an eclectic mix of historic elegance and contemporary culture. For travelers looking to explore this vibrant city and the surrounding Canterbury region, securing a reliable car rental in Christchurch, NZ, can significantly enhance the travel experience. A trusted provider, NZ Rent A Car, offers a friendly, straightforward service that promises to make your journey as smooth as possible.
Navigating Christchurch with a rented vehicle is not just about convenience; it’s about crafting a personalized adventure. The city, rebuilding and revitalizing since the 2011 earthquakes, offers numerous attractions such as the Canterbury Museum, the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, and the transitional Cardboard Cathedral. Each site tells a part of Christchurch’s ongoing story of resilience and rebirth.
For those drawn to the scenic routes, driving offers an intimate way to encounter the region’s breathtaking landscapes. From the comfort of their rental car, travelers can head to the Banks Peninsula, where the charming town of Akaroa and dramatic coastal views await. Further afield, the Southern Alps beckon with opportunities for skiing, hiking, and soaking in natural hot pools at Hanmer Springs, all within a drive’s reach.
Car rental services in Christchurch cater to a broad spectrum of needs, from the solo adventurer seeking a compact car to families needing spacious SUVs or minibusses. NZ Rent A Car, for instance, prides itself on a fleet that accommodates all, including budget-friendly options and vehicles equipped with essential touristic conveniences like GPS navigation systems.
What sets apart the best car rental experiences is not just the quality of the vehicles but also the customer service. Local firms like NZ Rent A Car understand the nuances of their locales and can provide invaluable insights into driving in New Zealand, such as local driving regulations and tips on weather conditions. Moreover, services like free shuttle pickups from the airport and 24/7 roadside assistance ensure that travelers have a seamless and secure experience.
In summary, whether you’re visiting Christchurch to delve into its rich cultural tapestry or explore the wider Canterbury landscape, a trustworthy car rental service can provide the freedom and flexibility to curate a trip that goes beyond the conventional tourist path. As the city continues to evolve, so does the opportunity to explore it in new and exciting ways, with each journey tailored to personal tastes and preferences.
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This content is brought to you by Andrea Mario
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—Christchurch, known for its English heritage and gateway to New Zealand’s South Island, offers an eclectic mix of historic elegance and contemporary culture. For travelers looking to explore this vibrant city and the surrounding Canterbury region, securing a reliable car rental in Christchurch, NZ, can significantly enhance the travel experience. A trusted provider, NZ Rent A Car, offers a friendly, straightforward service that promises to make your journey as smooth as possible.
Navigating Christchurch with a rented vehicle is not just about convenience; it’s about crafting a personalized adventure. The city, rebuilding and revitalizing since the 2011 earthquakes, offers numerous attractions such as the Canterbury Museum, the Christchurch Botanic Gardens, and the transitional Cardboard Cathedral. Each site tells a part of Christchurch’s ongoing story of resilience and rebirth.
For those drawn to the scenic routes, driving offers an intimate way to encounter the region’s breathtaking landscapes. From the comfort of their rental car, travelers can head to the Banks Peninsula, where the charming town of Akaroa and dramatic coastal views await. Further afield, the Southern Alps beckon with opportunities for skiing, hiking, and soaking in natural hot pools at Hanmer Springs, all within a drive’s reach.
Car rental services in Christchurch cater to a broad spectrum of needs, from the solo adventurer seeking a compact car to families needing spacious SUVs or minibusses. NZ Rent A Car, for instance, prides itself on a fleet that accommodates all, including budget-friendly options and vehicles equipped with essential touristic conveniences like GPS navigation systems.
What sets apart the best car rental experiences is not just the quality of the vehicles but also the customer service. Local firms like NZ Rent A Car understand the nuances of their locales and can provide invaluable insights into driving in New Zealand, such as local driving regulations and tips on weather conditions. Moreover, services like free shuttle pickups from the airport and 24/7 roadside assistance ensure that travelers have a seamless and secure experience.
In summary, whether you’re visiting Christchurch to delve into its rich cultural tapestry or explore the wider Canterbury landscape, a trustworthy car rental service can provide the freedom and flexibility to curate a trip that goes beyond the conventional tourist path. As the city continues to evolve, so does the opportunity to explore it in new and exciting ways, with each journey tailored to personal tastes and preferences.
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This content is brought to you by Andrea Mario
iStockPhoto