https://doi.org/10.36866/pn.108.9

Holly Shiels and a team of physiologists ventured to the Arctic to study the oldest living vertebrate, the Greenland shark. The Society’s Communications team documented the trip in a series of videos and blog posts available at bit.ly/sharkdiary

Understanding the physiology of creatures born in Shakespeare’s time is important for our sake, and theirs. Uncovering how they live for hundreds of years could shed light on human diseases associated with ageing, such as cancer and heart disease. To conserve them most effectively, we need to understand their physiology, so we can anticipate how they will respond to changes in their environment.

Readers gain insight into techniques such as calculating the heart rate of the sharks using strips of heart muscle, and estimating their age using carbon dating, as well as learning about the rocky life on a research vessel.

Holly’s blogs and videos were just the beginning: we’re on a mission to showcase the work of our Members! If you’re interested in featuring your work in writing and in videos, get in touch at news@physoc.org telling us about your research written in public-friendly language.