Would you like to inspect the original subtitles? These are the user uploaded subtitles that are being translated:
1
00:00:02,203 --> 00:00:03,202
Narrator: What if...
2
00:00:03,304 --> 00:00:04,937
Woman:
That is enormous.
3
00:00:05,039 --> 00:00:08,407
...Elusive deep-sea fish could
help us predict earthquakes?
4
00:00:08,509 --> 00:00:11,176
[ screaming, gasping ]
5
00:00:11,278 --> 00:00:13,912
What exactly are they detecting?
6
00:00:14,015 --> 00:00:16,782
Narrator: And what is the point
of this pointy egg?
7
00:00:16,884 --> 00:00:19,852
Okay, that's a big question.
8
00:00:19,954 --> 00:00:23,122
Narrator:
Nature is awe-inspiring,
9
00:00:23,224 --> 00:00:25,357
But sometimes it just
doesn't make sense.
10
00:00:25,459 --> 00:00:28,394
Man: I have never, ever seen
anything like this.
11
00:00:28,496 --> 00:00:32,031
Our team of experts investigate
the weirdest animal behavior.
12
00:00:32,133 --> 00:00:34,199
That's amazing.
13
00:00:34,301 --> 00:00:35,334
And the most
unexpected events...
14
00:00:35,436 --> 00:00:36,468
What is causing that?
15
00:00:36,570 --> 00:00:37,770
...Ever caight on camera.
16
00:00:37,872 --> 00:00:39,171
Woman: My god.
17
00:00:39,273 --> 00:00:42,274
These are nature's
strangest mysteries...
18
00:00:42,376 --> 00:00:43,876
"solved."
19
00:00:43,978 --> 00:00:44,877
-- Captions by vitac --
www.Vitac.Com
20
00:00:44,979 --> 00:00:46,111
Captions paid for by
discovery communications
21
00:00:46,213 --> 00:00:51,717
Narrator: Planet earth --
300 million years b.C.
22
00:00:51,819 --> 00:00:55,521
The dinosaurs are already using
an incredible delivery system
23
00:00:55,623 --> 00:00:58,891
For bringing their young
into the world.
24
00:00:58,993 --> 00:01:00,959
Perfect for incubation,
25
00:01:01,062 --> 00:01:06,265
Eggs are strong on the outside
and safe within.
26
00:01:06,367 --> 00:01:10,636
And now 300 million
and some 2,000 years later,
27
00:01:10,738 --> 00:01:15,441
The dinosaurs' descendants,
birds, are still laying them.
28
00:01:15,543 --> 00:01:16,909
But there is one question
29
00:01:17,011 --> 00:01:20,546
Scientists haven't
quite unscrambled --
30
00:01:20,648 --> 00:01:24,550
Why are birds' eggs
such different shapes?
31
00:01:24,652 --> 00:01:26,785
The shape of eggs
has excited speculation
32
00:01:26,887 --> 00:01:28,387
For hundreds of years.
33
00:01:28,489 --> 00:01:29,688
♪
34
00:01:29,790 --> 00:01:32,291
We tend to think of eggs
as being egg shaped,
35
00:01:32,393 --> 00:01:35,227
But the variation that we get
across different species
36
00:01:35,329 --> 00:01:36,829
Is remarkable.
37
00:01:36,931 --> 00:01:38,397
[ birds chirping ]
38
00:01:38,499 --> 00:01:42,434
Hummingbirds have these little
tiny bullet-shaped eggs.
39
00:01:42,536 --> 00:01:45,671
Birkhead: Others like waders
produce rather pointed eggs.
40
00:01:45,773 --> 00:01:48,607
Of course, the most extreme end,
you have the kiwi,
41
00:01:48,709 --> 00:01:51,810
Which gives birth
to a very large oval egg.
42
00:01:51,912 --> 00:01:55,514
The human equivalent
of giving birth to a 4-year-old.
43
00:01:55,616 --> 00:01:58,951
Narrator: There are around
18,000 species of bird,
44
00:01:59,053 --> 00:02:03,655
And amazingly,
almost as many varieties of egg.
45
00:02:03,757 --> 00:02:07,025
And that really throws up
a question of, "why?"
46
00:02:07,128 --> 00:02:08,794
It's a mystery.
47
00:02:08,896 --> 00:02:11,997
Narrator: Some eggs are round,
some are long,
48
00:02:12,099 --> 00:02:14,500
And others are in between,
49
00:02:14,602 --> 00:02:18,170
But why is each kind of egg
a different shape,
50
00:02:18,272 --> 00:02:21,306
And what exactly determines
the shape of an egg?
51
00:02:21,408 --> 00:02:25,010
It was a puzzle no one
could solve until 2017,
52
00:02:25,112 --> 00:02:28,614
When scientists thought
they'd finally cracked it.
53
00:02:28,716 --> 00:02:32,618
Researchers found a correlation
between the shape of an egg
54
00:02:32,720 --> 00:02:35,387
And the flight performance
of a bird.
55
00:02:35,489 --> 00:02:36,955
Narrator:
The scientists examined photos
56
00:02:37,057 --> 00:02:39,224
Of nearly 50,000 eggs,
57
00:02:39,326 --> 00:02:42,594
And compared them
with the birds' lifestyles.
58
00:02:42,696 --> 00:02:44,096
Birkhead:
The main conclusions were,
59
00:02:44,198 --> 00:02:46,498
Birds that spent
a lot of time in the air
60
00:02:46,600 --> 00:02:49,134
Tended to produce
rather elongated eggs,
61
00:02:49,236 --> 00:02:51,136
And birds that didn't spend
a lot of time in the air
62
00:02:51,238 --> 00:02:54,106
Produced rather squatted,
dumpy eggs.
63
00:02:54,208 --> 00:02:55,574
When I first heard this,
64
00:02:55,676 --> 00:02:58,443
It sounded a little bit
bizarre to me,
65
00:02:58,546 --> 00:03:01,079
A little bit like
the ancient study of phrenology,
66
00:03:01,182 --> 00:03:02,614
When the shape of one's head
67
00:03:02,716 --> 00:03:05,484
Indicated your likelihood
of criminal behavior.
68
00:03:05,586 --> 00:03:07,052
It was all a bit weird.
69
00:03:07,154 --> 00:03:09,154
Narrator:
It might sound weird,
70
00:03:09,256 --> 00:03:12,357
But there was method
to the madness.
71
00:03:12,493 --> 00:03:15,460
If a bird is going to fly well,
it needs to be,
72
00:03:15,563 --> 00:03:17,563
Well, aerodynamic.
73
00:03:17,665 --> 00:03:20,999
And that means having a thin
and streamlined body.
74
00:03:21,101 --> 00:03:24,937
So any eggs growing inside them
must expand lengthways
75
00:03:25,039 --> 00:03:29,041
So the eggs end up narrower,
or pointy at one end.
76
00:03:29,143 --> 00:03:30,242
Got it?
77
00:03:30,344 --> 00:03:33,178
Good flyers, thinner birds,
thinner eggs.
78
00:03:33,280 --> 00:03:34,413
Easy.
79
00:03:34,515 --> 00:03:35,981
But did the theory stand up?
80
00:03:36,083 --> 00:03:38,283
♪
81
00:03:38,385 --> 00:03:40,285
Greive: So swifts,
as the name implies,
82
00:03:40,387 --> 00:03:42,721
Are very gifted flyers.
83
00:03:42,856 --> 00:03:45,290
Their eggs are
incredibly elongated,
84
00:03:45,392 --> 00:03:47,993
Consistent with
the researchers' theory.
85
00:03:48,095 --> 00:03:50,329
On the other hand,
you have birds like owls
86
00:03:50,431 --> 00:03:53,332
Who only fly very short
distances occasionally,
87
00:03:53,467 --> 00:03:56,101
And their eggs are almost
perfectly spherical --
88
00:03:56,203 --> 00:03:58,170
Again, consistent
with the theory.
89
00:03:58,272 --> 00:04:00,505
♪
90
00:04:00,608 --> 00:04:02,241
Narrator:
So one of the biggest mysteries
91
00:04:02,343 --> 00:04:04,710
In the avian world
had been solved.
92
00:04:04,812 --> 00:04:09,147
Well, maybe, because one egg
defied the theory completely.
93
00:04:09,250 --> 00:04:11,183
There's an exception
to the rule, as always.
94
00:04:11,285 --> 00:04:14,653
And this is the egg of a bird
called the guillemot.
95
00:04:14,755 --> 00:04:18,357
♪
96
00:04:18,459 --> 00:04:20,759
Narrator: Known as guillemots,
or mirrors,
97
00:04:20,861 --> 00:04:22,294
In the breeding season,
98
00:04:22,396 --> 00:04:24,296
These sea birds congregate
on cliffs
99
00:04:24,398 --> 00:04:27,466
In groups
of as many as 5,000
100
00:04:27,568 --> 00:04:30,636
Because they need to be
stimulated by a noisy crowd
101
00:04:30,738 --> 00:04:33,338
If they're to mate successfully.
102
00:04:33,440 --> 00:04:36,908
The guillemot belongs to a
family of birds, the auk family.
103
00:04:37,011 --> 00:04:38,677
Actually, I'm getting off
on a tangent now.
104
00:04:38,779 --> 00:04:40,412
I'll come back again.
[ laughs ]
105
00:04:40,514 --> 00:04:42,481
It has a very elongated egg.
106
00:04:42,616 --> 00:04:43,949
One end is very pointy,
107
00:04:44,051 --> 00:04:46,585
And the other end
is very rounded.
108
00:04:46,720 --> 00:04:48,987
Narrator: Scientists found that
the pointiest eggs --
109
00:04:49,089 --> 00:04:51,623
Call them asymmetric
if you want to be fancy --
110
00:04:51,725 --> 00:04:54,159
Tended to come
from the top flyers,
111
00:04:54,261 --> 00:04:56,895
But the guillemot
was going against the grain.
112
00:04:56,997 --> 00:04:59,031
Greive:
The egg itself is asymmetric,
113
00:04:59,133 --> 00:05:01,033
Indicating that the guillemot
114
00:05:01,135 --> 00:05:03,468
Must be an exceptionally
gifted flyer,
115
00:05:03,570 --> 00:05:05,737
But in fact,
they're absolutely rubbish.
116
00:05:05,839 --> 00:05:09,341
[ chirping ]
117
00:05:09,443 --> 00:05:12,544
They spend almost their entire
lives bobbing about
118
00:05:12,646 --> 00:05:14,379
Like a feathered cork
on the ocean
119
00:05:14,481 --> 00:05:15,747
And seldom fly at all.
120
00:05:15,849 --> 00:05:17,949
And when they do,
they don't do it very well.
121
00:05:18,052 --> 00:05:22,321
[ birds chirping ]
122
00:05:22,423 --> 00:05:24,790
Birkhead: Guillemots are
pretty awful flyers.
123
00:05:24,892 --> 00:05:27,759
You know, they flap like crazy
just to stay up.
124
00:05:27,861 --> 00:05:30,028
Narrator:
They're no soaring eagle.
125
00:05:30,130 --> 00:05:32,297
♪
126
00:05:32,399 --> 00:05:35,967
In fact, the sea bird's wings
are more adapted for diving.
127
00:05:36,070 --> 00:05:38,236
They reach depths of 600 feet,
128
00:05:38,339 --> 00:05:41,540
Where those stubby wings
make perfect flippers.
129
00:05:41,642 --> 00:05:43,542
It's a great way to catch fish.
130
00:05:43,644 --> 00:05:45,777
And they only need
to move off the sea
131
00:05:45,879 --> 00:05:49,247
And up the cliffs when it's time
to raise their young.
132
00:05:49,350 --> 00:05:51,750
But the chicks don't
hang around for long.
133
00:05:51,852 --> 00:05:56,388
Burke:
The chicks will stay on that
cliff ledge for a few weeks,
134
00:05:56,523 --> 00:05:58,957
But as soon as they're
strong enough and big enough,
135
00:05:59,059 --> 00:06:02,327
They take this incredible
leap off the cliff.
136
00:06:02,429 --> 00:06:06,164
♪
137
00:06:06,266 --> 00:06:10,335
Narrator: These chicks are even
worse flyers than their parents.
138
00:06:10,437 --> 00:06:11,803
At just three weeks old,
139
00:06:11,905 --> 00:06:15,207
They hurl themselves off
the cliff and hope for the best.
140
00:06:15,309 --> 00:06:17,509
♪
141
00:06:17,611 --> 00:06:20,112
They go into a phase
where we call them jumplings,
142
00:06:20,214 --> 00:06:22,280
And as a paratrooper,
I especially appreciate
143
00:06:22,383 --> 00:06:24,816
This suicidal urge
to leap from the cliff
144
00:06:24,918 --> 00:06:26,718
Into the void,
where they land
145
00:06:26,820 --> 00:06:29,654
Hopefully in the sea,
and not the rocks.
146
00:06:29,757 --> 00:06:31,790
Narrator: Some jumplings
147
00:06:31,892 --> 00:06:34,659
Need a little
parental encouragement.
148
00:06:34,762 --> 00:06:36,828
♪
149
00:06:36,930 --> 00:06:38,930
[ squawking ]
150
00:06:39,032 --> 00:06:41,767
So it seems safe to say
guillemot's pointy,
151
00:06:41,869 --> 00:06:43,535
Or asymmetric, eggs
152
00:06:43,637 --> 00:06:46,838
Aren't related to their strong
flying technique.
153
00:06:46,940 --> 00:06:50,475
With that in mind, why on earth
would the guillemot
154
00:06:50,577 --> 00:06:52,911
Have such an exceptionally
asymmetric egg?
155
00:06:53,013 --> 00:06:54,913
Pfft.
[ laughs ]
156
00:06:55,015 --> 00:06:57,282
Okay, that's a big question.
157
00:06:57,384 --> 00:06:59,785
Burke: One explanation is
158
00:06:59,887 --> 00:07:01,787
That the shape of the egg
prevents them
159
00:07:01,922 --> 00:07:03,922
From rolling off the cliff edge.
160
00:07:04,024 --> 00:07:06,425
They balance their eggs
in a small space,
161
00:07:06,527 --> 00:07:10,529
And obviously an egg rolling off
is a very real risk.
162
00:07:10,631 --> 00:07:14,232
Narrator: Guillemot parents take
turns to incubate their eggs,
163
00:07:14,334 --> 00:07:16,902
And changeover is a risky time.
164
00:07:17,004 --> 00:07:20,972
They're just one clumsy move
and one cracked egg away from
165
00:07:21,074 --> 00:07:22,908
"worst parent of the year"
award.
166
00:07:23,010 --> 00:07:25,744
[ squawking ]
emperor penguins also have
167
00:07:25,846 --> 00:07:28,380
A precarious
nesting arrangement.
168
00:07:28,482 --> 00:07:32,384
They have pointy eggs, too,
and for a very good reason.
169
00:07:32,486 --> 00:07:35,787
Greive: The eggs are perfect
for being balanced on the feet
170
00:07:35,889 --> 00:07:39,224
To be kept above
the frozen ice and snow.
171
00:07:39,326 --> 00:07:43,128
Narrator: So with that in mind,
could guillemots lay pointy eggs
172
00:07:43,230 --> 00:07:47,098
To stop them rolling off
the cliff edge?
173
00:07:47,201 --> 00:07:50,402
Tim has been studying
these birds for 46 years
174
00:07:50,504 --> 00:07:52,771
And wanted to find out.
175
00:07:52,873 --> 00:07:57,008
If you take a guillemot egg
and roll it on a smooth surface,
176
00:07:57,110 --> 00:07:59,110
It will indeed roll
in an arc.
177
00:07:59,246 --> 00:08:01,346
But that arc is quite big
178
00:08:01,448 --> 00:08:03,882
Relative to the width
of the bank
179
00:08:03,984 --> 00:08:06,351
On which these birds breed.
180
00:08:06,453 --> 00:08:09,254
Narrator: Which means the egg
would roll right off the edge.
181
00:08:09,356 --> 00:08:12,257
So that pointy shape
should be a disadvantage.
182
00:08:12,359 --> 00:08:14,426
Clearly, stopping them
from rolling off the cliffs
183
00:08:14,528 --> 00:08:15,961
Is not the answer.
184
00:08:16,063 --> 00:08:18,997
So, they're not stopping them
rolling off cliffs.
185
00:08:19,099 --> 00:08:20,866
They're not helping them fly.
186
00:08:20,968 --> 00:08:23,068
Why are their eggs pointy?
187
00:08:23,170 --> 00:08:24,202
[ insects chirping ]
188
00:08:32,079 --> 00:08:33,778
[ insects chirping ]
189
00:08:33,881 --> 00:08:36,481
Narrator: For centuries,
scientists have wondered
190
00:08:36,617 --> 00:08:39,851
Why the guillemot egg
is such a pointy shape.
191
00:08:39,953 --> 00:08:43,421
Most birds that lay pointy eggs
are excellent flyers,
192
00:08:43,524 --> 00:08:45,857
But not guillemots, so how come?
193
00:08:45,959 --> 00:08:47,559
♪
194
00:08:47,661 --> 00:08:50,896
Greive: Is the shape
inherently stronger?
195
00:08:50,998 --> 00:08:53,465
One of the things
that guillemot eggs face
196
00:08:53,567 --> 00:08:57,369
Is the risk of being broken
by a clumsy guillemot
197
00:08:57,471 --> 00:09:00,972
Coming in and crash landing
on an incubating bird,
198
00:09:01,074 --> 00:09:03,808
So I wondered whether
this particular shape
199
00:09:03,911 --> 00:09:06,378
Would minimize the risk
of the egg being broken
200
00:09:06,480 --> 00:09:08,914
If another bird landed
on top of it.
201
00:09:09,016 --> 00:09:10,882
Narrator: But it turns out,
this pointy egg
202
00:09:10,984 --> 00:09:13,685
Isn't actually
the strongest shape.
203
00:09:13,787 --> 00:09:16,488
A perfect sphere,
a perfect round object
204
00:09:16,623 --> 00:09:19,357
Is the strongest structure
in nature.
205
00:09:19,459 --> 00:09:23,361
It's why we've designed deep-sea
submersibles the way they are.
206
00:09:23,463 --> 00:09:25,030
It evenly distributes
the pressure
207
00:09:25,132 --> 00:09:27,132
Across the entire surface.
208
00:09:27,234 --> 00:09:29,734
The largest egg we know of,
the ostrich egg,
209
00:09:29,869 --> 00:09:32,504
Is almost perfectly round
and is strong enough
210
00:09:32,606 --> 00:09:35,640
To support the weight
of a human being standing on it.
211
00:09:35,742 --> 00:09:37,909
But in the case
of the guillemot,
212
00:09:38,045 --> 00:09:40,712
The eggs are the opposite
of spherical.
213
00:09:40,814 --> 00:09:42,781
Therefore, we have to imagine
214
00:09:42,883 --> 00:09:46,284
There's some other virtue
to this unique design.
215
00:09:46,386 --> 00:09:47,852
♪
216
00:09:47,955 --> 00:09:50,055
Narrator: Sometimes,
solving a science problem
217
00:09:50,157 --> 00:09:52,524
Must feel like scaling a cliff.
218
00:09:52,626 --> 00:09:55,393
But then, after hundreds
of hours on the rocks,
219
00:09:55,495 --> 00:09:57,929
Tim finally had a breakthrough.
220
00:09:58,031 --> 00:09:59,998
Doing field work,
I had the opportunity
221
00:10:00,100 --> 00:10:04,636
To simply place the guillemot
egg on a sloping bit of ledge.
222
00:10:04,738 --> 00:10:08,373
I was staggered to see that
a guillemot egg just stayed put.
223
00:10:09,943 --> 00:10:11,309
Narrator:
Tim had discovered
224
00:10:11,411 --> 00:10:13,311
That only the most
asymmetrical eggs
225
00:10:13,413 --> 00:10:16,815
Could stick to
the most extreme cliff faces.
226
00:10:16,917 --> 00:10:18,683
Birkhead: We tested
this very rigorously,
227
00:10:18,785 --> 00:10:22,087
And it's true --
the more pointed the egg shape,
228
00:10:22,189 --> 00:10:25,323
The steeper the slope
that it can sit on.
229
00:10:25,425 --> 00:10:29,427
It made me realize that
stability was the explanation
230
00:10:29,529 --> 00:10:32,664
For why the guillemot egg
is this shape.
231
00:10:32,766 --> 00:10:34,332
Narrator: So the reason
the guillemot egg
232
00:10:34,434 --> 00:10:36,434
Breaks all the rules --
233
00:10:36,536 --> 00:10:39,971
It helps them cling
to their precarious nests.
234
00:10:40,073 --> 00:10:44,075
It's a perfect example
of natural selection in action.
235
00:10:44,177 --> 00:10:46,745
Less pointed eggs rolled
off the cliff,
236
00:10:46,847 --> 00:10:49,781
So the birds that laid them
lost all their chicks.
237
00:10:49,883 --> 00:10:52,984
Birds that laid pointy eggs
saw their chicks survive,
238
00:10:53,086 --> 00:10:57,122
So their genes
are still going strong today.
239
00:10:57,224 --> 00:11:02,160
[ insects chirping ]
240
00:11:02,262 --> 00:11:03,828
♪
241
00:11:03,930 --> 00:11:08,033
Narrator: Mexico --
April 2014.
242
00:11:08,168 --> 00:11:09,834
Kayakers looking for adventure
243
00:11:09,936 --> 00:11:12,570
Get a bit more
than they bargain for.
244
00:11:12,673 --> 00:11:14,773
-Uh-oh.
-Oh, my gosh.
245
00:11:14,875 --> 00:11:17,776
Woman: My god, look at the size
of the thing.
246
00:11:17,878 --> 00:11:20,545
-It's going under your boat.
-Oh, my gosh.
247
00:11:20,647 --> 00:11:22,847
And I'm taking
a movie of it.
248
00:11:22,949 --> 00:11:24,849
Narrator: And this little movie
went viral,
249
00:11:24,951 --> 00:11:27,952
With over
6 million views online.
250
00:11:28,055 --> 00:11:29,888
Oh, boy. Oh, boy.
251
00:11:30,023 --> 00:11:33,958
It was quite a shock
for the woman with the camera.
252
00:11:34,061 --> 00:11:37,062
Woman: That is enormous.
253
00:11:39,032 --> 00:11:41,566
♪
254
00:11:41,668 --> 00:11:44,903
Narrator: The kayakers had
stumbled across an oarfish,
255
00:11:45,038 --> 00:11:47,172
An animal rarely seen by humans
256
00:11:47,274 --> 00:11:50,575
Despite the fact it lives
in all warm oceans.
257
00:11:50,677 --> 00:11:52,377
♪
258
00:11:52,479 --> 00:11:54,813
It is normally hidden away
in the deep,
259
00:11:54,915 --> 00:11:57,615
3,000 feet below the surface.
260
00:11:57,718 --> 00:11:59,384
Conley: Normally
when we find these guys,
261
00:11:59,486 --> 00:12:01,786
You're gonna find them in a
vertical position in the water,
262
00:12:01,888 --> 00:12:03,054
Their head toward
the surface of the water
263
00:12:03,156 --> 00:12:04,556
And their tail
towards the deep.
264
00:12:04,658 --> 00:12:06,958
And they sort of undulate
and sort of swim
265
00:12:07,060 --> 00:12:09,327
In a vertical manner.
266
00:12:09,429 --> 00:12:11,763
Narrator:
Oarfish are huge.
267
00:12:11,865 --> 00:12:16,634
In fact, the giant variety
is the longest bony fish alive.
268
00:12:16,737 --> 00:12:18,603
Conley: They're so long,
they can get up to
269
00:12:18,705 --> 00:12:20,605
56 feet long, 600 pounds.
270
00:12:20,707 --> 00:12:23,675
They're very large fish.
271
00:12:23,777 --> 00:12:25,643
Narrator:
Only a few videos exist
272
00:12:25,746 --> 00:12:29,681
Of an oarfish in its natural
deep-sea habitat.
273
00:12:29,783 --> 00:12:32,217
More people have seen earth
from space
274
00:12:32,319 --> 00:12:36,755
Than witnessed this rare
aquatic species in the wild.
275
00:12:36,857 --> 00:12:39,257
Just hear how excited
this deep-sea diver is
276
00:12:39,359 --> 00:12:41,826
To finally see one.
277
00:12:41,928 --> 00:12:43,294
Man: There it is.
There it is.
278
00:12:43,396 --> 00:12:46,164
♪
279
00:12:46,266 --> 00:12:47,832
This is incredible.
280
00:12:47,934 --> 00:12:50,201
This is absolutely incredible.
281
00:12:50,303 --> 00:12:51,770
♪
282
00:12:51,872 --> 00:12:54,239
Narrator:
Yet, in the last few decades,
283
00:12:54,341 --> 00:12:58,109
Dozens of oarfish have washed up
on beaches all around the world.
284
00:12:58,211 --> 00:13:00,011
This one was found
285
00:13:00,113 --> 00:13:01,613
By u.S. Navy seals
286
00:13:01,715 --> 00:13:03,381
On a san diego beach,
287
00:13:03,483 --> 00:13:05,683
And measured 23 feet long.
288
00:13:07,187 --> 00:13:08,853
So what are these
rarely seen
289
00:13:08,955 --> 00:13:12,390
Denizens of the deep
doing in the shallows?
290
00:13:12,492 --> 00:13:15,760
Well, there are some
surprising possibilities.
291
00:13:15,862 --> 00:13:17,629
Some of the sightings
have coincided
292
00:13:17,731 --> 00:13:20,732
With looming natural disasters.
293
00:13:20,834 --> 00:13:23,768
Nosal: What's interesting
is that sometimes a string
294
00:13:23,870 --> 00:13:28,473
Of these oarfish will wash up
right before an earthquake hits.
295
00:13:28,575 --> 00:13:31,976
[ gasping, screaming ]
296
00:13:32,078 --> 00:13:34,512
Some people think that
they are sensing
297
00:13:34,614 --> 00:13:37,081
These impending large events.
298
00:13:37,184 --> 00:13:41,719
Woman: Baby, the water's
coming to an end!
299
00:13:41,822 --> 00:13:45,423
Narrator: In 2010, dozens of
oarfish beached themselves
300
00:13:45,525 --> 00:13:49,694
Before earthquakes
in both chile and haiti.
301
00:13:49,796 --> 00:13:52,664
At least a dozen more were found
on the shores of japan
302
00:13:52,766 --> 00:13:55,400
In the months before the
devastating tohoku earthquake
303
00:13:55,502 --> 00:13:57,101
In 2011.
304
00:13:57,204 --> 00:13:59,504
♪
305
00:13:59,606 --> 00:14:03,908
In which case, could our oarfish
have swum up to a mexican beach
306
00:14:04,010 --> 00:14:07,478
Because it senses
an impending earthquake?
307
00:14:07,581 --> 00:14:09,280
Moser:
Earthquake scientists have
308
00:14:09,382 --> 00:14:11,916
Amazing types of instruments
309
00:14:12,018 --> 00:14:13,451
That are doing everything
they can
310
00:14:13,553 --> 00:14:17,055
To detect very minute
ground shakings.
311
00:14:17,157 --> 00:14:21,359
And you know, we as human beings
still can't predict earthquakes,
312
00:14:21,461 --> 00:14:23,595
And so it would be
really incredible to think
313
00:14:23,697 --> 00:14:28,032
That these fish seemingly
have learned this trick.
314
00:14:28,134 --> 00:14:31,236
Narrator: These recent beachings
aren't the first time oarfish
315
00:14:31,338 --> 00:14:33,204
Have caught our imagination.
316
00:14:33,306 --> 00:14:37,542
♪
317
00:14:37,644 --> 00:14:41,679
There are a lot of stories
from ancient history of mariners
318
00:14:41,781 --> 00:14:43,848
Finding strange
mythical creatures,
319
00:14:43,950 --> 00:14:47,118
And one of those turns out
to be the oarfish.
320
00:14:47,220 --> 00:14:49,120
When you go back
into ancient japanese folklore,
321
00:14:49,222 --> 00:14:51,823
These oarfish were known
to let the people know
322
00:14:51,925 --> 00:14:53,658
That an earthquake
might be coming.
323
00:14:53,760 --> 00:14:56,327
Narrator: So could this
ancient myth be right?
324
00:14:56,429 --> 00:14:57,896
♪
325
00:14:57,998 --> 00:14:59,831
Do these deep-sea dwellers
326
00:14:59,933 --> 00:15:03,001
Hold seismic-sensing powers?
327
00:15:03,103 --> 00:15:05,536
Nosal: If oarfish were somehow
detecting earthquakes,
328
00:15:05,639 --> 00:15:07,205
How would that work
mechanistically?
329
00:15:07,307 --> 00:15:09,340
What exactly are they detecting?
330
00:15:09,442 --> 00:15:10,875
[ insects chirping ]
331
00:15:18,351 --> 00:15:19,984
[ insects chirping ]
332
00:15:20,086 --> 00:15:22,353
Narrator: In April 2014,
333
00:15:22,455 --> 00:15:24,722
Kayakers stumbled
across an oarfish
334
00:15:24,824 --> 00:15:26,591
By a beach in mexico.
335
00:15:26,693 --> 00:15:28,927
Throughout history,
these deep-sea fish
336
00:15:29,029 --> 00:15:31,796
Have often washed ashore
before earthquakes.
337
00:15:31,898 --> 00:15:35,566
So, could it be detecting
an imminent quake?
338
00:15:35,669 --> 00:15:39,103
Moser:
There are actually multiple
different types of waves
339
00:15:39,239 --> 00:15:41,039
That propagate
from an earthquake,
340
00:15:41,141 --> 00:15:45,343
And some of those waves actually
propagate through liquid.
341
00:15:45,445 --> 00:15:48,446
Nosal: The oarfish might be able
to hear certain sounds
342
00:15:48,548 --> 00:15:50,214
Or to feel certain vibrations
343
00:15:50,317 --> 00:15:52,483
That certainly would be
transmitted through the water.
344
00:15:52,585 --> 00:15:55,486
♪
345
00:15:55,622 --> 00:15:58,389
Narrator: If so, they wouldn't
be the first animals to be found
346
00:15:58,491 --> 00:16:01,225
To have a seismic sixth sense.
347
00:16:01,328 --> 00:16:04,629
Some animals can detect
earthquakes
348
00:16:04,731 --> 00:16:06,998
Right before
they're about to happen.
349
00:16:07,100 --> 00:16:10,268
Some birds are known to do this.
350
00:16:10,370 --> 00:16:11,636
Dogs are known to do this.
351
00:16:11,738 --> 00:16:13,638
Narrator: Eureka, california --
352
00:16:13,740 --> 00:16:16,641
January 2010.
353
00:16:16,743 --> 00:16:18,810
This dog has sensed something.
354
00:16:18,912 --> 00:16:20,745
It's out the door.
355
00:16:20,847 --> 00:16:23,681
[ rumbling ]
356
00:16:23,783 --> 00:16:26,384
And sure enough,
the earth starts to move.
357
00:16:26,486 --> 00:16:28,987
[ clattering ]
358
00:16:31,157 --> 00:16:33,491
So if an oarfish
washes ashore,
359
00:16:33,593 --> 00:16:36,027
Would you be right
to run for the hills?
360
00:16:36,129 --> 00:16:39,063
[ rumbling, clattering ]
361
00:16:39,165 --> 00:16:40,865
These animals are probably
detecting
362
00:16:40,967 --> 00:16:42,834
The very minute vibrations
363
00:16:42,936 --> 00:16:45,470
Right before
the major shaking starts,
364
00:16:45,572 --> 00:16:47,338
So we're talking about
predicting earthquakes
365
00:16:47,440 --> 00:16:50,842
On the order of seconds,
not hours or days.
366
00:16:50,944 --> 00:16:53,544
Certainly I don't think
that oarfish would be able
367
00:16:53,646 --> 00:16:58,349
To predict an earthquake
days before one occurs.
368
00:16:58,451 --> 00:17:00,852
Narrator: Even if,
like many other animals,
369
00:17:00,954 --> 00:17:03,187
Oarfish can detect earthquakes,
370
00:17:03,289 --> 00:17:06,057
It seems unlikely they could
do it far enough in advance
371
00:17:06,159 --> 00:17:10,028
To swim all the way up from
the depths to reach the shore.
372
00:17:10,130 --> 00:17:12,864
So why are they swimming
in the shallows?
373
00:17:12,966 --> 00:17:14,565
Could there be something
in their biology
374
00:17:14,667 --> 00:17:16,267
That might explain it?
375
00:17:16,369 --> 00:17:20,371
Narrator: October 13, 2013.
376
00:17:20,473 --> 00:17:21,939
One oarfish that entered
377
00:17:22,042 --> 00:17:23,841
The shallow waters off
catalina island
378
00:17:23,943 --> 00:17:25,476
In southern california
379
00:17:25,578 --> 00:17:29,180
Was found to be a female
full of thousands of eggs.
380
00:17:29,282 --> 00:17:32,884
In which case, could she have
come here to reproduce?
381
00:17:32,986 --> 00:17:37,188
Most of the oarfish that have
washed ashore are females.
382
00:17:37,323 --> 00:17:40,625
When we open them up, we find
that they're full of eggs,
383
00:17:40,727 --> 00:17:42,693
But the eggs are at
different developmental stages.
384
00:17:42,796 --> 00:17:46,898
So could there be some behavior
associated with spawning?
385
00:17:47,000 --> 00:17:50,735
Narrator: Spawning,
a.K.A. Fish sex.
386
00:17:52,138 --> 00:17:53,504
♪
387
00:17:53,606 --> 00:17:56,040
Spawning near the shore
is actually quite common
388
00:17:56,142 --> 00:17:58,709
For many species of fish.
389
00:17:58,812 --> 00:18:01,879
Every summer, capelin throw
themselves out of the water
390
00:18:01,981 --> 00:18:04,048
And onto the beaches
of the north atlantic
391
00:18:04,150 --> 00:18:08,019
And north pacific coasts
in their millions.
392
00:18:08,121 --> 00:18:10,288
The females lay their eggs
in the sand,
393
00:18:10,423 --> 00:18:14,559
Where the males fertilize them
before returning to the sea.
394
00:18:14,661 --> 00:18:17,161
It's a capelin beach party.
395
00:18:17,263 --> 00:18:19,797
Might oarfish be doing
something similar?
396
00:18:19,899 --> 00:18:21,466
♪
397
00:18:21,568 --> 00:18:22,934
Oarfish have been observed
398
00:18:23,069 --> 00:18:25,670
Spawning off the coast
of mexico.
399
00:18:25,772 --> 00:18:28,372
And in fact, our amazing
footage of the oarfish
400
00:18:28,475 --> 00:18:33,044
That startled the kayakers
was shot in mexico, too.
401
00:18:33,146 --> 00:18:36,314
It's thought the fertilized eggs
stay at the surface of the ocean
402
00:18:36,416 --> 00:18:38,216
Until the baby fish hatch
403
00:18:38,318 --> 00:18:42,887
Before eventually swimming down
to their deep-sea home.
404
00:18:42,989 --> 00:18:44,755
So it's possible,
since these guys
405
00:18:44,858 --> 00:18:47,024
Are sometimes found in pairs,
406
00:18:47,127 --> 00:18:48,960
But the problem
is they're very elusive,
407
00:18:49,062 --> 00:18:50,561
We don't really know much about
408
00:18:50,663 --> 00:18:53,965
The reproductive
history of this fish.
409
00:18:54,067 --> 00:18:56,334
Narrator: So if they're not
coming ashore to spawn,
410
00:18:56,436 --> 00:18:58,936
And they're not detecting
impending earthquakes,
411
00:18:59,038 --> 00:19:02,607
Just what is driving
these fish out of the deep?
412
00:19:02,709 --> 00:19:05,910
The answer might lie
in the motion of the ocean.
413
00:19:06,012 --> 00:19:07,545
[ insects chirping ]
414
00:19:14,921 --> 00:19:16,621
[ insects chirping ]
415
00:19:16,723 --> 00:19:18,089
♪
416
00:19:18,191 --> 00:19:21,225
Narrator: Kayakers in mexico
got a startling sight,
417
00:19:21,327 --> 00:19:23,661
An oarfish in shallow water,
418
00:19:23,763 --> 00:19:25,396
And there have been
other reported cases
419
00:19:25,498 --> 00:19:26,864
Of these deep-sea fish
420
00:19:26,966 --> 00:19:30,168
Washing ashore
all around the world.
421
00:19:30,270 --> 00:19:32,069
They're not predicting
earthquakes
422
00:19:32,172 --> 00:19:36,374
Or coming up to spawn,
so what else could be going on?
423
00:19:36,476 --> 00:19:40,545
The answer may well lie with the
very waters they're swimming in.
424
00:19:40,647 --> 00:19:43,714
Warming of the waters
often changes the currents,
425
00:19:43,816 --> 00:19:45,650
It changes the direction
of the currents,
426
00:19:45,752 --> 00:19:48,352
It changes the swiftness
of the current,
427
00:19:48,454 --> 00:19:52,290
So it's very likely
that the currents changed
428
00:19:52,392 --> 00:19:53,691
And ended up washing
429
00:19:53,793 --> 00:19:55,893
Some of those oarfish
too close to shore,
430
00:19:55,995 --> 00:19:57,328
And they were unable
to swim back
431
00:19:57,430 --> 00:19:59,130
Because they are
such weak swimmers.
432
00:19:59,232 --> 00:20:05,002
♪
433
00:20:05,104 --> 00:20:07,438
Narrator: It may seem weird
for a fish to be a bad swimmer,
434
00:20:07,540 --> 00:20:10,541
But in the ocean depths
where oarfish live,
435
00:20:10,643 --> 00:20:13,611
There are hardly any currents.
436
00:20:13,713 --> 00:20:16,280
That means they don't build up
much muscle mass,
437
00:20:16,382 --> 00:20:19,717
And so lack the strength
to cope in turbulent waters.
438
00:20:19,819 --> 00:20:20,885
♪
439
00:20:20,987 --> 00:20:22,186
And oarfish are not
440
00:20:22,288 --> 00:20:25,022
The only ones
to be swept away.
441
00:20:25,124 --> 00:20:28,259
Ocean currents can be so strong
that even whales
442
00:20:28,361 --> 00:20:31,462
And turtles
can be pushed off course.
443
00:20:31,564 --> 00:20:34,732
So, is this what happened
to our oarfish?
444
00:20:34,834 --> 00:20:37,001
Kind of being at the wrong place
at the wrong time,
445
00:20:37,103 --> 00:20:39,203
They end up washing ashore.
446
00:20:39,305 --> 00:20:41,939
Narrator: So the solution is
as simple as ocean currents
447
00:20:42,041 --> 00:20:44,008
Driving oarfish to shore.
448
00:20:44,110 --> 00:20:46,677
Perhaps this one's hoping
the tide will change
449
00:20:46,779 --> 00:20:48,179
And whisk it back to the deep
450
00:20:48,281 --> 00:20:51,115
And away from
the curious crowds.
451
00:20:51,217 --> 00:20:54,318
[ insects chirping ]
39300
Can't find what you're looking for?
Get subtitles in any language from opensubtitles.com, and translate them here.